Investigation of epidemiological aspects of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Jahrom city, Fars province, during a five year period

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), a protozoan infection caused by an intracellular parasite belonging to the genus Leishmania, continues to be a significant public health problem in Iran. Jahrom, a county in Fars province which located in south of Iran, it is one of the endemic foci of CL. This descriptive retrospective study aimed to investigate the epidemiological aspects of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Jahrom city, Fars province, during ۲۰۱۴-۲۰۱۹. CL positive patients referred to Jahrom health center for treatment from ۲۰۱۴ to ۲۰۱۹ were studied. A total of ۶۱۱ cases were identified of which (۳۷۴) ۶۱.۳% were male and (۲۳۷) ۳۸.۷% were female. The mean (± SD) age was ۲۶.۷±۱۷.۹ years (range ۱ to ۸۵ years). The acute cases were observed in all age groups and the highest prevalence rate was seen among ۲۰-۲۹ year old age group. Numbers of positive cases during the study period (۲۰۱۴ to ۲۰۱۹) were ۲۰۷, ۸۸, ۱۱۷,۱۰۸ and ۹۱, respectively. CL was more common in fall and winter seasons, reaching to peak in November. Although the incidence was higher in men, there was no statistically significant difference between the sexes. The average number of lesions in patients was calculated to be ۲.۵±۱.۵. The most common area of CL lesions appeared to be hands (۲۸.۳%). The study also showed that the disease was more common among rural inhabitants than in urban citizens (Pvalue=۰.۰۱).

کلیدواژه ها:

Cutaneous leishmaniasis ، Jahrom ، Fars ، Iran