Prevalence of eyelid lesions in cutaneous leishmaniasis in Pakistan.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis is endemic in over 80 countries of the world, encompassing almost five continents. According to the World Health Organization, leishmaniasis has an estimated incidence of twelve million worldwide.2 Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease caused by a haemoflagellate Leishmania. It is transmitted to humans by the bite of female sand flies, of which there are 30 species. The epidemiology of cutaneous leishmaniasis is strongly correlated with the temporal and geographical distribution of the vector (the sand fly). The activity of the sand fly is in turn affected by both rainfall and temperature. Extensive land reclamation, the presence of infected rodents and unnaturally moist soil all lead to an increase in the density of the vector.