The Analytical study of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Kermanshah (2011-2012)

Background: Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) is known as one of the world health issues, which is considered endemic in about 98 countries in the world including Iran. Regarding the remarkable increase of this disease in Kermanshah province, this study was conducted to evaluate the current situation of CL in Kermanshah province during 2011 and 2012.

Methods: In this analytical-descriptive study, all of the CL Patients in Kermanshah province during 2011 and 2012 were examined. The patients’ data were collected using questionnaire, and the microscope slides containing the smears of the serous fluids of their wounds were stained with Giemsa stain and examined using light microscope. Collected data were later analyzed using SPSS-19 and Pearson correlation.

Results: during 2011 and 2012 totally 287 cases of CL were reported in Kermanshah province. The overall prevalence of the disease between 2011 and 2012 were about 5.6 and 3.8 cases per 100,000 persons, respectively. Most of the CL cases were seen in Qasr-e-Shirin district, which were approximately 47% of totall cases of the province. The prevalence of CL in males and females was 56.8% and 43.2% respectively. Most of the CL cases were seen in housewives (32.1%) and in addition, the most CL cases were seen in the patients between 20 and 29 years old (19.9%). Also, most of the cases were seen in winter (41.8%) and fall (28.9%).

Conclusion: Findings suggest that CL has increased remarkably in the province during these two years, and since Qasr-e-Shirin is the most infected district of the province, it seems important to concentrate on it more seriously and specifically.