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Cutaneous leishmaniasis: an emerging childhood infection

Shaheen Shoaib1, Shoaib Tauheed, Amtul Hafeez

  • 1Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan. shaheens@cyber.net.pk

Journal of Ayub Medical College, Abbottabad : JAMC
|August 13, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) is a significant childhood disease in Pakistan, particularly in Sindh. This study confirmed CL in 185 children, identifying L. tropica and L. major strains.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Parasitology
  • Dermatology
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) is endemic in Pakistan, with recent outbreaks in Sindh.
  • The study investigated the prevalence of CL as a childhood disease.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in children.
  • To identify the Leishmania species responsible for CL in the studied pediatric population.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study involving 400 patients presenting to skin clinics.
  • Diagnostic confirmation of CL through microscopy, culture, and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR).

Main Results:

  • 185 out of 400 cases (ages 1-14 years) were clinically diagnosed and laboratory-confirmed for CL.
  • Lesions varied between dry and wet types, suggesting the presence of multiple parasite strains.
  • PCR analysis confirmed the presence of Leishmania tropica and Leishmania major.

Conclusions:

  • Cutaneous Leishmaniasis demonstrates significant prevalence among children in the studied region.
  • The identified Leishmania strains (L. tropica and L. major) are associated with CL in Pakistani children.
Abstract

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