title: Clinco-epidemiologic study of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Bikaner, Rajasthan, India.
abstract: Cutaneous leishmaniasis is endemic to the Thar Desert of Rajasthan, Bikaner, India. The present study describes clinico-epidemiologcial data of all cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis CL in this region during 2001-2011. A total of 1,379 patients with 2,730 lesions were reported during the study period. Ages of patients ranged from 3 months to 86 years, and there was a predominance of infections in males. Most patients were from urban areas and lower middle socioeconomic groups. Lesions were dry, ulcerated nodules or plaques of different sizes commonly over face and upper limb. Skin smears were positive for parasites in 958 (69.5%) patients, and the remaining 45.8% (193 of 421) patients were positive by skin biopsy. Histopathologic analysis of the skin showed mixed granulomas consisting of macrophages, lymphocytes, epitheloid, and plasma cells. Species identification was conducted for 45 randomly selected patients by polymerase chain reaction, the infective species was Leishmania tropica. Most patients were treated with intra-lesional injections of sodium stibogluconate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Sandar Patel Medical College, Bikaner, Rajasthan, India. dr.naushin22@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Naushin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Aara
authors.forename: Kanika
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Khandelwal
authors.forename: Ram A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Bumb
authors.forename: Rajesh D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Mehta
authors.forename: Bhikam C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Ghiya
authors.forename: Renu
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jakhar
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dodd
authors.forename: Poonam
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Salotra
authors.forename: Abhay R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Satoskar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007223:Infant; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult