Diagnostic criteria of different species of leishmaniasis in Balochistan, Pakistan

Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease that results into severe lesion/lesions after bitten by the sandfly. The proper and immediate diagnosis is necessary for this lethal disease until it become worse in condition. The purpose of this research study is to present diagnostic criteria of leishmaniasis of different species which is helpful in early diagnosis. Diagnosis criteria include location and number of lesions, type and size of lesions located on the body of the patients. This study was conducted at public and private hospitals and clinics of Karachi Pakistan. Total 200 patients were included in this study. All patients were included in the study after fulfilling the inclusion criteria. Data was collected from the February, 2011 – December, 2012 in the form of well organized questionnaire which had following information as; age, sex, location of patients, site, number, and type of lesion. The mean age of patient was 35±5 years. Out of all selected patients, 40 % were male and rest of 60 % was female. The highest ratio of patients was natives of Baluchistan Pakistan due to its climate which is favorable for sandfly. Majority of patients have single lesion>multiple lesion>double lesion>binary lesion. The common type of lesion seen was the wet ulcerative type open and reddish lesion and the dry nodules. The size of the lesion was observed ranging from 1cm 3cm respectively. It is observable from the lesion types that the cutaneous leishmaniasis is more common in Pakistan especially in Balochistan than other species of leishmaniasis. In the light of this study, it is concluded that the leishmaniasis is still highly dominated in the Pakistan especially in Balochistan province which is due to its favorable climate for the causative agent. Beside this, there is no proper treatment available and due to poor socioeconomic condition of Pakistan, delayed in diagnosis and treatment of such disease is common. For the purpose of treatment, derivative of pentavalent antimony have been applied that is also more poisonous. There is need of extensive study about parasite of leishmaniasis and their proper treatment and awareness should be provided in the dominated area of Pakistan.