Leishmaniasis among patients visiting medical centers at Dhamar district, Dhamar Governorate, Yemen: A 3-Year retrospective study

Abstract

Leishmaniasis is an important vector-borne disease that represents a serious public health problem. A 3-year retrospective study was conducted at medical centers, Dhamar district, Dhamar Governorate using patient`s records with leishmaniasis from 2021-2023. Demographic, clinical and spatiotemporal data such as age, gender, place of residence, occupation, clinical signs, treatment, month variation(season) were collected and reviewed. Collected data were summarized and analyzed using Microsoft Excel and SPSS software respectively. The results revealed that, the overall prevalence rate of leishmaniasis was 88.54% (181 out of 323), and 87.00% and 1.55 % for Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) and Visceral leishmaniasis (VL)respectively. The higher number of cases was recorded in year of 2022(33.44%); whereas, the lower in 2021(21.98%). Significant differences(P<0.05) were observed among prevalence rates of leishmaniasis forms. The higher prevalence rate was in age groups of 11-20 years old, males, rural residents, those visiting G. Dhamar hospital, those with skin lesion, and those treated with Meglumine drug as 30.65, 44.58, 76.78, 26.63, 64.40, 50.46, 45.51% respectively; whereas the lower rate was recorded in age group of 31-40 years (8.36%), females (43.96%), urban residents (11.76%), those visiting General laboratory (0.64%), in lower& upper limbs of patients(1.24%), patients had hepatosplenomegaly (1.55%), and treated Stipogluconate Sodium drug (4.66%). The higher rate of disease was recorded in month of February (11.15%) and the lower in the month of November (4.33%). Statistical analysis revealed that there were significant differences between the prevalence rate and variables of age, medical center, anatomical site, clinical signs, treatment. In conclusion, the leishmaniasis is prevent among the patients' visiting medical centers at Dhamar district areas. An effective control measures should be implemented to reduce and control of leishmaniasis in the study area.