Cutaneous Leishmaniasis among Syrian Refugees in Jordan: a Retrospective Study

The aim of this study is to investigate cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) among Syrian refugees residing in Jordan. A total of 558 Syrian refugee patients were clinically diagnosed with cutaneous leishmaniasis during 2010-2016. For each patient, sex, age, location, and number of lesions were recorded. Of the total 558 CL cases among Syrian refugees, 514 (92.1%) were classified as imported, 14 (2.5%) as locally acquired infection, and 30 (3.4%) of cases unclassified due to lack of information. By gender, 306 (55%) were males and 252 (45%) were females. Ages ranged between 1 and 78 years (17.3 ± 16.3), with the age group 1-10 years (48.2%) being the most affected group. The face was the most affected (171 cases, 30.6%), followed by the hands and arms in 95 cases (17%), while lesions on the legs were observed in 69 cases (12.4%), and 65 cases (11.6%) on the trunk. The number of lesions ranged from 1 to 5 (1.39 ± 0.985) on the face, 1 to 3 (1.32 ± 0.898) on the trunk, 1 to 17 (1.5 ± 41.39) on the arms, and 1 to 5 (1.5 ± 1.473) on the legs. Extensive efforts should be undertaken by the health officials in Jordan to confine the spread of this disease by strengthening surveillance, diagnosis of new cases, proper treatment of all cases, and entomological surveys for the presence of the vector sandflies as well as the reservoir hosts within the refugee camps. Most cases were considered as imported (92.1%) and require immediate attention at the port of entry.