Cutaneous leishmaniasis in Sanliurfa: epidemiologic and clinical features of the last four years (1997-2000)

BACKGROUND: Sanliurfa is located in south-east Anatolia, the region with the largest focus of anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in Turkey. The present study was designed to determine the epidemiological and clinical patterns of cases of CL in the Sanliurfa area over a period of 4 years (1997-2000). METHODS: 2120 CL cases attending the Harrankapi in this study. RESULTS: There were 790 cases of CL in 1997, and 778 in 1998. The numbers declined to 277 in 1999 and to 275 in 2000. The majority of patients (70%) were less than 20 years of age, with the highest percentage (27%) occurring in the 5- to 9-year age group. Acute CL and chronic CL were observed in 1926 (90.8%) and 63 (3%) patients, respectively. Leishmaniasis recidivans (LR) was found only in 131 (6.2%) patients. Lesions of CL were seen mainly on the exposed parts of the body such as the face and neck (57.5%), upper limbs (32.2%) and lower limbs (10.2%). Ninety-three percent of the patients were residents of central Sanliurfa from the southern and eastern parts of the city, areas with poor housing and low socio-economic conditions. CONCLUSION: Although the incidence of CL showed a sharp decline from 1997 to 2000 in Sanliurfa, this does not mean that the disease is on its way to eradication.