ABSTRACT

Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) is a curable clinical condition characterized by atrophic scars caused by the Leishmania species of protozoan parasites. In the period following the beginning of the Syrian Civil War, there has been a dramatic increase in number of CL cases in Gaziantep. The aim of this study was to evaluate the epidemiological characteristics of CL patients admitted to Gaziantep University of Medicine Faculty Leishmaniasis diagnosis and treatment center in Gaziantep.

Within the context of this study, a total of 635 CL patients admitted between 01 April 2013 and 01 April 2014 to the Leishmaniasis diagnosis and treatment center of the Gaziantep were evaluated retrospectively. Patient data regarding age, sex, the location of lesions, the number of lesions, the duration of the lesions, and the months in which the lesions appeared were recorded and statistically analyzed.

Of these patients, 67 (10.6%) were Turkish citizens, while 568 (89.4%) were Syrian citizens. In addition, 299 (47.1%) of the patients were female, while 336 (52.9%) were male. The large majority of the cases were between 5-9 (n=140, 22%) and 10-19 (n=168, 26.5%) years of age; 66% of all cases were below 20 years of age. An evaluation of the distribution of cases according to the months revealed that the lowest number of cases occurred in the months of July (n=14, 2.2%) and August (n=13, 2.0%), while the highest number of cases occurred in the months of January (n=122, 19.2%) and February (n=106, 16.7%).

Cutaneous Leishmaniasis is a condition that affects individuals of all ages and genders. It is thus necessary to conduct regular health screenings for Cutaneous Leishmaniasis, and to inform and educate vulnerable communities and the society in general regarding this condition. (Turkiye Parazitol Derg 2015; 39: 13-6)

Keywords: Cutaneous Leishmaniasis, epidemiology, Gaziantep, leishmania