03095nas a2200397   4500000000100000008004100001260001200042653001900054653001300073653002600086653001700112653001800129653001600147100002300163700001500186700002600201700002500227700001800252700001600270700001500286700002900301700001700330700002900347700002100376700002100397700002300418700001600441700001900457700003000476245018400506856026000690300001600950490000600966520171100972022001402683       2014                            d  c12/202510aPublic health 10aPakistan10aEpidemiologic Studies10aRisk factors10aLeishmaniasis10adermatology1 aWaqar Ahmad Tahir 1 aWahab Zia 1 aMuhammad Farhan Khan 1 aAbdul Rehman Shahid 1 aShariq Hayat 1 aAyesha Zia 1 aGul Zaman 1 aMuhammad Maaz Bin Zahid 1 a Saba Rahim 1 aMuhammad Moazzam Farooq 1 aZeeshan Muzafar 1 aMuneebUr Rehman 1 aTouseef Ur Rehman 1 aSana Rafiq 1 aMahnoor Iqbal 1 aMalik Muhammad Umer Awan 00a  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  uhttps://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/  a2605 - 26160 v33 a<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>
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