Author/Authors :
Vares, Behrooze kerman university of medical sciences - Leishmaniasis Research Center, ايران , Mohseni, Mina kerman university of medical sciences - Medical Student Research Committee, ايران , Heshmatkhah, Amireh kerman university of medical sciences - Leishmaniasis Research Center, ايران , Farjzadeh, Saeideh kerman university of medical sciences - Leishmaniasis Research Center, ايران , Safizadeh, Hossein kerman university of medical sciences - Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Research Center for Social Determinants of Health, ايران , Shamsi-Meymandi, Simin kerman university of medical sciences - Afzalipour Medical School - Department of Dermatology, ايران , Rahnama, Zahra kerman university of medical sciences - Afzalipour Medical School - Department of Dermatology, ايران , Reghabatpour, Leila kerman university of medical sciences - Afzalipour Medical School - Department of Dermatology, ايران , Fathi, Omid kerman university of medical sciences - Afzalipour Medical School - Department of Dermatology, ايران
Abstract :
Background: Leishmaniasis is a zoonotic infection caused by a protozoa belonging to the genus Leishmania. Its clinical manifestations range from a self-healing cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) to lethal visceral leishmaniasis. We aim to examine the quality of life of patients with CL in Kerman, Iran. Methods: In this cross-sectional study we evaluated 124 patients with CL. The Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) questionnaire was used for measuring quality of life. Data on demographics and characteristics of the lesions also were collected. Mann-Whitney U-test and Kruskal-Wallis were used for data analyses. Results: The mean DLQI score was 5.87 ± 5.96. We observed the highest effect in the symptoms and feelings domains; the lowest effect was seen in the treatment domain of the DLQI. There was no significant difference in DLQI scores between men and women. Patients with ulcerated lesions had lower quality of life (P 0.05). Conclusion: CL significantly affects the quality of life of patients. Further studies are suggested to examine the effect of its treatment on the quality of life in these patients.
