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. 2023 Mar 17;3(4):e229.
doi: 10.1002/ski2.229. eCollection 2023 Aug.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis in a newly established treatment centre in the Lay Gayint district, Northwest Ethiopia

Endalew Yizengaw  1   2   3 , Endalkachew Nibret  2   4 , Gizachew Yismaw  3 , Bizuayehu Gashaw  3   4 , Dessalegn Tamiru  5 , Abaineh Munshea  2   4 , Yegnasew Takele  6 , Ingrid Müller  6 , Lloyd Chapman  7 , Richard Weller  8 , James A Cotton  9 , Pascale Kropf  6
Affiliations

Cutaneous leishmaniasis in a newly established treatment centre in the Lay Gayint district, Northwest Ethiopia

Endalew Yizengaw et al. Skin Health Dis. .

Abstract

Background: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a neglected tropical disease that primarily affects the most vulnerable populations. In Ethiopia, where this study took place, CL is an important health problem, however, the incidence of CL is poorly monitored.

Objectives: This study took place in a recently established CL treatment centre, at Nefas Mewcha Hospital, Lay Gayint. This area was considered to be endemic for CL, however, no cases of CL from Lay Gayint had previously been officially reported to the Amhara Regional Health Bureau.

Methods: Following a CL awareness campaign, a retrospective data review was performed of patients presenting to this centre between July 2019 and March 2021. Basic demographic and clinical data were collected by a nurse and recorded in the logbook of the CL treatment centre.

Results: Two hundred and one patients presented for diagnosis and treatment. The age of the patients ranged from 2 to 75 years and 63.2% were males. Most patients were between 10- and 19-years-old. The majority (79.1%) of the patients presented with localised cutaneous leishmaniasis and 20.9% with mucocutaneous leishmaniasis. 98% of the patients tested positive for Leishmania parasites by microscopy.

Conclusions: This work underpinned how CL is a major public health problem in the Lay Gayint district. It also shows that raising awareness about CL in the community and providing diagnosis and treatment encouraged patients to travel to seek diagnosis and treatment.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no conflict of interest exists.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Nefas Mewcha Hospital.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Cutaneous leishmaniasis patients in the Leishmaniasis Treatment Centre, Nefas Mewcha Hospital.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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