A new focus of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Jammu division of Jammu and Kashmir State, India.
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Date
2016-03
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Abstract
Background: Cutaneous leishmaniasis in India is mainly confi ned to the deserts of Rajasthan;
some cases have been reported from the dry north-western half of the Indo-Gangetic plain,
including Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi and Varanasi. Aims: To highlight a new focus
of cutaneous leishmaniasis in the Jammu division of Jammu and Kashmir State, previously
a non-endemic area. This report presents the clinico-epidemiological and investigative
results of 120 new cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis detected between November 2012
and October 2013. Methods: The clinical diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis was made
using criteria proposed by Bari and Rahman. It was further confi rmed by the demonstration of
Leishman-Donovan bodies in Leishman stained slit skin smears and skin biopsy specimens,
and/or by a satisfactory response to intra-lesional sodium stibogluconate given weekly for
4 weeks. Serial clinical photographs were taken before giving injections and at the end of
the 6th week. Results: There were 67 females and 53 males with an age range of 8 months
to 80 years. The most frequently affected site was the face. Lesions were most commonly
of the nodulo-ulcerative type. The number of lesions ranged from 1 to 4. Farmers (28.1%),
homemakers (27.2%) and students (27.2%) were signifi cantly over-represented among the
occupations (P < 0.001). Skin smears and biopsies were positive for Leishman-Donovan
bodies in 50.8% and 44.2% cases, respectively. Conclusions: There is a new focus of
cutaneous leishmaniasis in Jammu division which deserves urgent attention from the public
health angle. Further epidemiological studies are warranted to establish the identity of the
vector and the strain of Leishmania involved.
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Keywords
Cutaneous leishmaniasis, intralesional sodium stibogluconate, Leishman-Donovan bodies
Citation
Kaul Neenu, Gupta Vipin, Bhardwaj Subhash, Dogra Devraj, Dogra Naina. A new focus of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Jammu division of Jammu and Kashmir State, India. Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology. 2016 Mar-Apr; 82(2): 145-150.