Epidemiological study of cutaneous leishmaniasis in southwest of Iran during 2001–2011

To examine the prevalence process and epidemiological characteristics of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) during 2001–2011. This was a cross-sectional epidemiologic study examining 2 637 patients with CL in Susangerd county during 2001–2011. The data of all patients who referred to the Prevention Unit of Susangerd Health Center were registered in CL epidemiologic data summary forms. The data and parameters included age, gender, occupation, season, residence (urban, rural), and lesion location. Out of 2 637 patients, 1 174 cases (44.5%) were females and 1463 patients (55.5%) were males. The maximum rate of infection was recorded in under 10-year-old age group (45.32%) and its minimum rate was seen among those aged over 60 years (0.87%). Among them, 1 557 patients (59.0%) were living in urban and 1 080 (41.0%) were in rural areas. The maximum and minimum occupational frequency distributions were seen in students (49.9%) and farmers (0.6%), respectively. The study showed that the maximum and minimum frequencies were observed in winter (52.33%) and summer (7.62%) correspondingly. The most lesion frequencies from lesion location point of view were related to hands (37.5%), faces (30.0%), feet (26.3%) and other organs (6.2%) and the number of lesions ranged from 1–5 and sized varied from 0.5–5.5 cm Epidemiological parameters such as age, gender, occupation, season, residence (urban, rural) and lesion location in endemic regions have had significant effects on the prevalence of CL in Susangerd county and the findings can be effective for assessing disease prevention programs. In addition, CL might become a serious dermatological health problem in the near future due to a great population movement to the neighboring country Iraq with a high incidence to an endemic area.