Pediatric Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Hormozgan Province, Southeast Iran during 2016-2020: A Descriptive Epidemiological Study

Background: Cutaneous leishmaniasis is an important infectious disease that affects all age groups, especially children, in endemic areas. This study aimed to investigate epidemiological aspects of pediatric (children under 15 years old) cutaneous leishmaniasis (PCL) in Hormozgan province, southeast Iran. Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was conducted from 2010 to 2020. In this study, data were obtained from two databases, including the disease surveillance system of the Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences and epidemiological registration forms completed by leishmania focal points in the regional health centers. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square, and t-test using SPSS ver.21 software. Results: In total, 394 confirmed cases of PCL were recorded. The PCL incidence rate was found to decrease from 10.37/100000 cases in 2016 to 7.85/100000 in 2020. The mean age of the patients was 5.2 ±3.8 years, and most of the cases (239/394; 60.7%) belonged to the 0 to 5-year-old group. The mean number of lesions was 1.5 per person, and most of the lesions were observed on the face followed by hands. Compared to females, the infection rate was higher in males, and 264 of the cases (67%) were observed in rural areas. The higher incidence of PCL was observed in winter and fall with 183(46.5%) and 78(19.8%) cases, respectively. Conclusion: our findings confirm that pediatric cutaneous leishmaniasis is an endemic disease in Hormozgan province, with more prevalent in children. Appropriate educational interventions for prevention along with active surveillance for rapid detection and treatment of the patients should be considered to reduce the prevalence of PCL in this province.