@article{103936,
  keywords = {Public health , Pakistan, Epidemiologic Studies, Risk factors, Leishmaniasis, dermatology},
  author = {Waqar Ahmad Tahir  and Wahab Zia  and Muhammad Farhan Khan  and Abdul Rehman Shahid  and Shariq Hayat  and Ayesha Zia  and Gul Zaman  and Muhammad Maaz Bin Zahid  and  Saba Rahim  and Muhammad Moazzam Farooq  and Zeeshan Muzafar  and MuneebUr Rehman  and Touseef Ur Rehman  and Sana Rafiq  and Mahnoor Iqbal  and Malik Muhammad Umer Awan },
  title = {  Epidemiological Risk Factors and Clinical Characterization of Leishmaniasis: A Cross-Sectional Study from a Tertiary Care Leishmania Unit with a Focus on Person-Specific Factors},
  abstract = {<p><strong>Background:</strong></p>

<p>Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a significant public health concern in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, yet person-specific risk factors in this endemic region remain poorly characterized.</p>

<p><strong>Methods:</strong></p>

<p>This clinical case series was conducted at the Leishmania Unit of Khalifa Gul Nawaz Hospital, Bannu, from October 2024 to May 2025. A total of 198 laboratory-confirmed cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis were enrolled using convenience sampling. A bilingual (English/Pushto) questionnaire captured personal protective, ecological, housing, and clinical data. Analysis was limited to descriptive statistics.</p>

<p><strong>Results:</strong></p>

<p>Disease awareness was strikingly low (11.2%). Outdoor sleeping (67.8%), non-use of bed nets (79.4%), in-house livestock keeping (85.9%), and proximity to open sandfly breeding sites (93%) were the predominant risk factors. Summer accounted for 70.1% of symptom onsets. Window screens were absent in 64.1% of households; mud construction predominated for flooring (63.3%) and roofing (50.8%). Lesions were located primarily on exposed body parts: the face was most commonly affected (36.3%), followed by feet (25.7%) and hands (19.2%). Most cases presented with solitary lesions and a chronic disease course.</p>

<p><strong>Conclusion:</strong></p>

<p>Cutaneous leishmaniasis in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is perpetuated by modifiable behavioral, ecological, and housing-related factors. Targeted health education, promotion of personal protective measures, and improvements in housing infrastructure are needed to reduce disease transmission in this endemic region.</p>
},
  year = {2014},
  journal = {Frontier in Medical & Health Research},
  volume = {3},
  pages = {2605 - 2616},
  month = {12/2025},
  issn = {3007-1607},
  url = {https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Shariq-Hayat/publication/412147729_EPIDEMIOLOGICAL_RISK_FACTORS_AND_CLINICAL_CHARACTERIZATION_OF_LEISHMANIASIS_A_CROSS-SECTIONAL_STUDY_FROM_A_TERTIARY_CARE_LEISHMANIA_UNIT_WITH_A_FOCUS_ON_PERSON-SPECIFIC_FACTORS/links/},
  language = {ENG},
}