Lifetime prevalence of cutaneous leishmaniasis scar in the city of Kherameh, Fars province, Iran (2015)

Background: Second only to malaria, cutaneous leishmaniasis is considered the most serious disease in tropical and subtropical areas around the world. Although leishmaniasis is a self-limited disease, the scar left by it on the affected person’s skin can cause mental and emotional problems. The present study investigated the lifetime prevalence of cutaneous leishmaniasis scar among the affected people in the city of Kherameh in 2015. Materials and Methods: Using a census method in this cross-sectional study, we interviewed 11905 families in the city of Kherameh. The epidemiological data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire prepared through scientific methods and were analyzed through Pearson, t-test, Fisher's, and Chi-square tests. Results: The cutaneous leishmaniasis prevalence was estimated to be 31.49% across the studied area, with the scar lifetime prevalence of 25.93% and 20.32% among the female and male participants, respectively. The highest age-gender specific prevalence was found among the 5-9 years old female participants. Furthermore, the risk of the disease recurrence was found to be 0.68%. Conclusion: There was a high rate of the cutaneous leishmaniasis prevalence in the region under study and it was found that the disease do not provide lifelong immunity. To control the disease, it is necessary to find more effective solutions and take appropriate controlling actions.