Clinical and demographic criteria for cutaneous leishmaniasis in Sirte, Libya

Background Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) comprises a major parasitic health problem worldwide, particularly in Libya where the prevalence of CL continues to re-emerge. Objective The aim of the present study was to determine the clinical patterns and demographic criteria of CL among cases with suspected skin lesions, prophylactically treated as a routine by intra-lesion injection of pentostam in the outpatient polyclinic in Sirte, Libya. Participants and methods This cross-sectional study was conducted on a total of 84 patients attending the dermatology clinic in the outpatient polyclinic at Sirte, Libya, during the period from March 2010 to January 2011; 40 (47.6%) females and 44 (52.4%) males. Age of the participants ranged from 12 to 40 years, with a mean age of 27±7.24 years. Cutaneous lesions were diagnosed microscopically by using the slit smear technique after staining with Giemsa stain for the amastigote forms of Leishmania spp. Results The infection rate was 63/84 (75%) among the studied group. Sex was significantly associated with acquisition of CL, with more males being at risk (60.3 vs. 39.7%; P =0.01). Occupation as a farmer posed a greater risk for infection ( P =0.0004). Among the positive cases, the number of lesions ranged from three to five on lower limbs and were ulcerative in type ( P =0.02, 0.01, and 0.0004, respectively). Conclusion Our results were in agreement with those of the previous studies about the prevalence of CL in Sirte, Libya. CL was found to be more common among male farmers, and most lesions were on the lower limb and were of the ulcerative type.