EPIDEMIOLOGICAL AND CLINICAL FEATURES OF CUTANEOUS LEISHMANIASIS IN CENTRAL STEPPE IN DJELFA (ALGERIA)

  • Safia Benmebkhout
  • Karim Souttou Ziane Achour University of Djelfa
  • Youcef Ismail
  • Idir Bitam
  • Ahcène Hakem
Keywords: Epidemiological, clinical, cutaneous leishmaniasis, central steppe, Djelfa.

Abstract

The aim of this study is to investigate the current epidemiological situation of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in the Djelfa area (South of Algeria) based on cases reported between 2000 and 2016, and to describe the epidemiological and clinical features of cutaneous leishmaniasis identified within the Djelfa laboratories. The identification of leishmaniasis in these lesions samples was confirmed by direct inspection of skin smears stained with Giemsa and after Leishmania culturing on NNN medium. Between 2000 and 2016, there were 3,348 confirmed cases of CL. The yearly incidence was 20.52 cases per year, with significant fluctuations ranging from 9 cases in 2000 to 1,407 cases in 2006. The distribution of CL patients reveals a significant incidence in the winter. The juvenile population is most frequently affected by CL (sex ratio = 1.18) and both sexes are impacted. The number of lesions ranged from one to eight, with an average of only one lesion per patient. The ulcero-crusted aspec is the most dominant.

 

Published
2023-07-19
Section
Research articles