[Leishmaniasis in Constantine (Algeria): review of five years (2006-2010) at the University Hospital]

In Algeria, leishmaniasis evolves in an endemoepidemic way. A peak of 30,227 cases of alert was reached in 2005. Our retrospective study was conducted over a period of five years (2006 to 2010), during which we examined 352 skin samples and 892 marrow aspirate smears. The distribution of cutaneous leishmaniasis cases by age shows that all ages are affected with extremes of 10 months and 95 years. The model class is between 20 and 30 years with 67 cases. Lesions are usually single, reaching the face; the most common is seen in 53% of cases. About visceral leishmaniasis, the child pays the heaviest price. A rate of 87% of visceral leishmaniasis is listed under 14 years. The youngest is an infant of 8 months, which shows a high incidence of the disease. The evolution of the disease in these five years shows a real regression of visceral leishmaniasis cases, from 13 cases in 2006 to 5 cases in 2010. This leishmaniasis is clearly declining in Algeria, but the prevalence remains high, mainly in rural areas.