Open AccessEpidemiological features of cutaneous leishmaniasis in diagnosed patients from an endemic area (central Morocco)
Author(s) -
Omar Amahmid,
Youssef El Guamri,
Khalid Zenjari,
Souad Bouhout,
Mohamed Ait Moh,
Fatima Boraâm,
Abdelaziz Ait Melloul,
Hilal Benfaida,
Khadija Bouhoum,
Driss Belghytı
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of parasitic diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.357
H-Index - 21
eISSN - 0975-0703
pISSN - 0971-7196
DOI - 10.1007/s12639-021-01357-2
Subject(s) - cutaneous leishmaniasis , epidemiology , medicine , leishmaniasis , leishmania tropica , disease , public health , leishmania , endemic disease , lesion , dermatology , pediatrics , immunology , surgery , pathology , parasite hosting , world wide web , computer science
Cutaneous leishmaniasis represents the most neglected tropical disease across the world. In Morocco, this disease is endemic and constitutes a major public health problem, with a national control program been implemented. The current study aimed to determine the pattern and epidemiological features of cutaneous leishmaniasis in affected patients in an area covered by the CL control and prevention program (Central Morocco). A total of 161 patients suspected for cutaneous leishmaniasis were diagnosed according to WHO laboratory methods, and 82 cases were confirmed positive for CL. The reports were analysed by patients' socio-geographic status, gender and age. The number and distribution of CL lesions by location, gender and age were investigated. Overall the confirmed cases, 89 % were infected by Leishmania tropica versus 21 % for Leishmania major . Females were significantly more affected than males ( p < 0.01). Children (0-15 years), especially those ≤ 7 years of age, were the most affected. For the distribution of lesions, single lesion cases were largely preponderant (70.7 %) compared to multiple lesions. Face location was significantly more frequent (62.2 %) compared to limbs (26.8 %). Face lesions were found more prevalent in children than in adults while limb lesions were highly observed in adults. The pattern of the disease is affected by many factors (e.g. environment, gender, age, etc.) and has specifics to be considered in prevention and control programs in endemic areas.