Epidemiological Study of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Kermanshah Province, 2011-2019

 Background and purpose: World Health Organization recommends and supports studies about leishmaniasis as one of the six major tropical and subtropical diseases. Iran is one of countries with relatively high infection rate of cutaneous leishmaniasis, so, the purpose of this study was to investigate the epidemiological status of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Kermanshah province, western Iran. Materials and methods: In a cross-sectional study, we investigated the records of all patients with leishmaniasis positive smears between 2011 and 2019 in Kermanshah province. Annual rate of the disease was calculated according to the data obtained from Statistical Center of Iran. Results: There were 1946 patients with leishmaniasis, including 1477(75.9%) men. The prevalence of leishmaniasis in Kermanshah province was 15.4 in 100,000 people. The prevalence of the disease in men and women was 23.4 and 7.42, respectively. Annual pattern of infection showed that in men the incidence rate was higher between November and January and lower in June, but no specific seasonal pattern was seen in women. The most common lesions were observed in hands and then the foot with an upward trend in recent years (P<0.001). But the trends for number of lesions in the head and body remained unchanged (P=0.7). Conclusion: According to the seasonal pattern of cutaneous leishmaniasis especially in men and its relationship with their career, educational programs and trainings are recommended to prevent sandfly bites.