The Epidemiology of Anthroponotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (ACL) in Larestan, 2006-2008

ntroduction:Leishmaniasis is one of the six important tropical diseases, different aspects of which are required to be studied, as recommended by World Health Organization. This study investigated the status of Antroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) in Larestan.Material and Methods:This was a cross-sectional descriptive study. Data were gathered through the epidemiological survey forms of the patients including questions on age, sex, the number of sores, location of the lesion, place of residence, and the type of construction. The data were analyzed by SPSS, version 15.Results:From776 patients, 327 (42.1%) were male and 449 (57.9%) female. The highest prevalence was in the age group of 0-9 years (43.9%) and the lowest was in 60+, 33 (4.3%). The mean of age and its standard deviation were 18.27 and 17.8, respectively with the range of 1-84. Of the patients, 575 (74.1%) were villagers and 201(25.9%) of them were residents of the urban areas. More than 484 (62.4%) patients had more than one sore. 406 (52.3%) of them were living in newly-built houses and 47.7 were living in old house. The high risk parts of the body were the hands; 301(58.4%) patients had sores on their hands.Conclusion:This study showed that the sex pattern of the disease differs from that in other areas and children under 10 years of age are mostly at risk. Also, leishmaniasis was mostly seen in rural areas; therefore, prevention measures must be taken together with education for groups at risk.