A post by a neighbor of a school-age boy moved the internet and caught the attention of the Municipal Health Department.
“I hereby ask for help for a boy from our municipality, Canoinhas, who is facing a serious health condition. The family has already been treated at the UPA and at the health center, but was advised to return home, even with the significant worsening of the condition. The child’s skin is extremely inflamed, with wounds, and now the nails are starting to fall out. The situation is getting worse every day”, posted Silmara Xavier.
According to the neighbor, the family needs a referral for a specialized evaluation, “as the mother is paying for consultations with a dermatologist privately, but this is not helping. This is not a simple allergy. The child is suffering and needs adequate care and an in-depth investigation. We strongly ask that the health authorities take a closer look at this case and provide the necessary referral urgently. It is a matter of health and dignity.”
Camila, mother of the 15-year-old boy, said that two dermatologists diagnosed severe atypical dermatitis, a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by intense, disabling itching, eczematous lesions spread over a large part of the body and intense peeling.
The situation started seven months ago. Camila says that she went to the Emergency Care Unit, Santa Cruz Hospital and health centers, and, in general, the case was treated as scabies. A month after the onset of symptoms, she decided to pay for a private consultation with a dermatologist who diagnosed atypical dermatitis and began treatment with medication. Shortly afterwards, the Health Department called Camila to take photos of the rashes on her son’s skin that would be sent for specialized analysis in Florianópolis. The boy was then directed to a consultation with the SUS dermatologist who, according to Camila, cut off all medications prescribed by the doctor, keeping only one corticosteroid. “The doctor (private doctor) was angry, so we chose to stay privately, especially because the SUS doctor would monitor the case once a month, whereas the private doctor sees him every 15 days”. Despite different treatments, both doctors agree on the diagnosis.
Cutting off medication, however, only made the situation worse. “He became addicted to corticosteroids because of the high doses. Now, the private doctor is reducing the dose so that his body can accept the corticosteroids again. The problem only increased, it appeared in his feet, stomach and his head bleeds.” Now, the boy needs to see a neurologist to understand the reason for the head bleeds and seizures he started having.
Camila complains about the high cost of keeping the boy in private consultation and asks the Municipality for help.
COUNTERPOINT
The Municipality sent the following note about the case:
“The Department of Health is providing all the necessary support. The boy consulted with a general practitioner and had a dermatological consultation in person. This Wednesday he consulted again at the health unit and left there with medication. The minor has an appointment with a neurologist scheduled for this Thursday, the 5th, and another appointment with a dermatologist has also been scheduled for the next few days.”
The mother says that the appointment with the dermatologist was only scheduled after the repercussions of the case. This Wednesday, guardianship counselors were at the boy’s school and took him to another appointment with a general practitioner.
“About the Guardian Council: it is an independent body, and management of the team is not the responsibility of the Municipality. We remember that the counselors were elected by popular vote”, concludes the Municipality.
The Guardianship Council does not comment on cases involving minors cared for by the institution.
