title: Profile and geographical distribution of reported cutaneous leishmaniasis cases in Northwestern Saudi Arabia, from 2010 to 2013.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the profile and geographical distribution of reported cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in the province of Hail, Saudi Arabia from 2010 to 2013.
  
  
  METHODS
  Human data were collected from the dermatology service of both King Khaled and General Hail hospitals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 483 confirmed CL cases were investigated. Cutaneous leishmaniasis follows a seasonal distribution related to the activity of the phlebotomine sand fly fauna. Both saudi and non saudi patients were almost equally infected. The number of reported cases of CL in men was higher than that in females. The frequency of CL was asoociated with age and increased in teenager and adult group. By analyzing the geographical distribution, the majority of Hail districts were affected with this disease. However it is more prevalent in Hail city.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The lack of data concerning the parasite, the sand fly fauna and the existing transmission cycles in Hail province make difficult to interpret the reported results and to follow up the spatio-temporal evolution of the disease.
authors.affiliation: College of Applied Medical Sciences, Clinical Laboratory Sciences Department, University of Hail, KSA; Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie Médicale et Moléculaire (code LR12ES08), Département de Biologie Clinique B, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Monastir, Tunisia. Electronic address: najoua.h@laposte.net.
authors.forename: Najoua
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Haouas
authors.affiliation: College of Applied Medical Sciences, Clinical Laboratory Sciences Department, University of Hail, KSA.
authors.forename: Omar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Amer
authors.affiliation: College of Applied Medical Sciences, Clinical Laboratory Sciences Department, University of Hail, KSA.
authors.forename: Asma
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ishankyty
authors.affiliation: College of Applied Medical Sciences, Clinical Laboratory Sciences Department, University of Hail, KSA.
authors.forename: Adnan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alazmi
authors.affiliation: College of Applied Medical Sciences, Clinical Laboratory Sciences Department, University of Hail, KSA.
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ishankyty
keywords: Cutaneous leishmaniais; Epidemiology; Hail Saudi Arabia