How to Predict the Diagnosis of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in a Non-Endemic Region

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a parasitic infection transmitted by the female sandfly, which has limited knowledge in non-endemic areas. AIMS: To predict the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of CL cases on treatment during the period of Syrian refugees’ settlement. METHODS AND MATERIAL: The epidemiological and clinical data of 81 patients with CL who were admitted to the Istanbul Bagcilar Research and Training Hospital between March 2010 and April 2017 were conducted as a retrospective cohort study. A logistic regression analysis was performed. RESULTS: Most detected demographics were Syrians (n = 56, 69.1%), ages <= 18 (n = 37, 45.7%), males (n = 49, 60.5%), elementary-school graduates (n = 35, 43.2%), and $500–750 income (n = 42, 51.9%). Most detected clinical characteristics were head/neck location (n = 38, 46.9%), acute-dry localized type (n = 71, 88%), crusted-papule (n = 79, 97.5%), and two lesions (n = 29, 35.8%). Means for age, family population, and session were 25.28 ± 20.90, 7.04 ± 2.03, and 11.27 ± 3.52, respectively. Majority of patients were admitted in 2014 and June. Significant factors by age were location, lesion type/number, and disease-duration. Lesion number ≥10, ages ≥41, crusted-nodule, cicatrix, and dissemination increased in session numbers, whereas crusted-nodule showed significant predictivity (P = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Location, lesion type/number, and disease duration may change by age in CL cases, whereas the presence of a crusted nodule may have a predictive effect on the number of treatment sessions.