title: A new focus of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Jammu division of Jammu and Kashmir State, India.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cutaneous leishmaniasis in India is mainly confined 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.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  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 confirmed 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 6 th 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 significantly 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, Government Medical College, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
authors.forename: Neenu
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kaul
authors.forename: Vipin
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Subhash
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bhardwaj
authors.forename: Devraj
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dogra
authors.forename: Naina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dogra
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000967:Antimony Sodium Gluconate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007223:Infant; D015552:Injections, Intralesional; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D000967:Antimony Sodium Gluconate