PREVALENCE OF CUTANEOUS LEISHMANIASIS IN WESTERN REGION OF LIBYA
Abstract
Cutaneous leishmaniasis is an endemic parasitic infection in the Mediterranean region, including Libya. This study was to determine the epidemiological changes of cutaneous leishmaniasis about incidence, age of patients, sex, season and residency from May 2020 to February 2022 at Zwaga Health centre in Sabratha city. The samples studied were from different cities in the Western part of Libya. 294 samples of which 180 were males and 114 were females, and whose age was 20-80 years.
The results showed that, most of the infected cases (48.6%) were less than 20 years old. It was also noticed that males are more likely to be infected (61.2%) than females (38.8%). Moreover, Sabratha was the most affected city (62.6%).
The results also showed that most of the infected cases were in the leg, hand and foot (42.5%). The highest incidence was in the winter (81.0%).
Knowing the prevalence and epidemiology of the disease can help reduce and prevent cutaneous leishmaniasis. Hence, further studies are needed to identify vector, reservoir and species of leishmania can help control this endemic infectious disease.
