Volume 5, Issue 2 (6-2006)                   JRUMS 2006, 5(2): 123-128 | Back to browse issues page

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Abstract:   (12943 Views)

  Frequency of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis among Patients Referred to the Center for Disease Control in Bam District, 1999-2003

 

 <strong> MR. </strong>Aflatonian MPh [1] , I. Sharifi PhD [2]

 

  Recived: 25/09/05 Revised: 10/06/2006 Accepted: 18/06/2006

 

  Background and Objective: Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) is an important public health problem in many parts of the world, especially in tropical and sub-tropical countries including Iran. The incidence of new cases is about 105 million, globally. CL in Iran presents two epidemiological forms Anthroponotic CL (ACL) that is caused by Leishmania tropica and Zoonotic CL (ZCL) that is caused by L. major. The district of Bam, one of the oldest foci for CL, 185 km far from the capital of Kerman province, is located in the south- eastern part of Iran. The population of Bam was 242, 234 in 2003. The objective of the present study was to compare the new cases one year after the earthquake with those occurred during the four years before the earthquake.

  Materials and Methods: Data for this descriptive-analytical study were collected by means of a questionnaire. Most of the CL cases were referred to the center for disease control after diagnosis by direct smear.

  Results: The total incidence rate showed no significant difference between 1999 and 2003, although the number of cases increased considerably between December 2002, and March 2003 one year after the earthquake (p<0.005) compared with the corresponding months during the four years before the earthquake. The mean age at incidence, increased during 1999 to 2003, while this difference was considerable in females and there were no significant differences based on the year of contraction, location of sore, number of sores, place of living and nationality.

  Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that although CL has been endemic in Bam district, there was no significant difference in the number of cases during the five years, four years before the earthquake and one year after the disaster, in spite of the earthquake and the proper condition for propagation of CL organism. It seems that control measures performed during the earthquake prevented the occurrence of any CL epidemics.

 

  Key words: Cutaneous Leishmaniasis, Bam District, Earthquake



  [1] - Academic Member, Dept. of Control Deases Center, University of Medical Science, Kerman

 (Corresponding Author) Tel:(0341)2113809, Fax: (0341)2112794 , E-mail: mraflatoonian@yahoo.com

  [2] - Professor Dept. of Parasitology, University of Medical Sciences, Kerman

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Type of Study: Research | Subject: Environmental Health
Received: 2006/09/27 | Published: 2006/06/15

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