Kashmor: Focus of cutaneous leishmaniasis

Background: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a protozoal infection, endemic in many areas of Pakistan. Objective: To document a new focus of CL and its clinical patterns in the District Kashmor in the Sindh province. Patients and methods: CL patients from District Kashmor (Province Sindh) presenting to the Outpatient Department of Dermatology, Mayo Hospital, Lahore, during a 5 months period, were included in the study. The patients were diagnosed clinically and confirmed by demonstration of amastigote form of leishmania in a Giemsa-stained smear prepared from the lesions. Results: Out of 300 patients enrolled, who had an average three months stay in District Kashmor, 55% had rural and 45% had urban leishmaniasis. The diagnosis of subtypes was based on history and clinical examination. Hundred patients had only one lesion, 121 patients had two lesions whereas rest of the patients had more than two lesions. The mean number of lesions was two with 75% involving legs and feet followed by 15% over the upper limbs, 5% involving trunk and 5% over face and neck. Conclusion: Cutaneous leishmaniasis is endemic in District Kashmor with predominance of rural followed by urban leishmaniasis and majority of patients have involvement of legs and feet.