The purpose of this study was to apply the technique of molecular biology in nasal secretion sample from household contacts of leprosy patients, in combination with dermatological and neurological assessments, improving the early diagnosis of leprosy. The study was conducted in health municipal units of Belém-PA, from February 2013 to April 2015. The sample consisted of 154 household contacts and 58 index cases of leprosy, totaling 212 subjects. Data collection was through epidemiological record, dermatologic and neurological evaluations and BCG scar examination. A nasal secretion sample from each subject for the PCR was collected. In index cases, positive PCR was in the age group of 40-59 years (35.0%), in multibacillary (MB) form (80,0%); cases with 7 to 9 skin lesions (35.0%) and with no enlarged nerves (40.0%). All positive index PCR cases show signs and symptoms of leprosy (34.5%) and most do not have BCG scar (65.0%). Among the contacts, positive PCR prevailed in females (63.9%); in the age group 20-39 years (44.4%); family income of a minimum wage (47.2%); student occupation (33.3%) and completed high school (36.1%). The strongest evidence of positive PCR in index cases and contacts was in multibacillary, respectively (37.2% and 25.6%). Proves to be a highly significant correlation between clinical signs and symptoms with PCR in nasal secretion of multibacillary contacts, indicating that if they get sick are more likely to reproduce the same operating way of index cases. The highest percentage of positive PCR was in contact with the absence of BCG scar (25.8%). The association between the signs, symptoms and PCR indicates that contacts with positive PCR have 07 times more likely to show signs and symptoms of leprosy. In estimating the potential risk for the development of leprosy in contacts, we identified 22 (14.3%) at intermediate risk and 06 (3.9% 0) at high risk. One hundred and forty-four (144) contacts said that they have daily contact with the index case (93.5%) and of these 36 (25.0%) were positive for PCR. The treatment of index cases led to a reduction of PCR positivity in both modes of operation. The correlation between PCR and the degree of disability of the index cases, grade 1 was more prevalent (55.0%). M. leprae DNA detection in the nasal secretion of household contacts for PCR, in association with dermatological and neurological assessments, raises the effectiveness of early diagnosis of leprosy, contributing to the control of the disease in the community.
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