TY - JOUR
KW - Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous
KW - Epidemiology
KW - Clinical Determinants
KW - Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
AU - Wasia Ullah 
AU - Abdul Nasir 
AU - Sahibzada Imtiaz Ahmad 
AU - Rafi Ullah 
AU - Muhammad Izaz 
AU - Ziaul Islam 
AU - Rabia 
AB - <jats:p>Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a major public health concern in areas where it is prevalent, including District Upper Dir of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. In order to determine risk factors and transmission patterns, this study examined the epidemiological and clinical features of 336 laboratory-confirmed CL cases. Significant ethnic differences were found in the data, with native Pakistanis accounting for 42.62% of cases and Afghan refugees for 57.37% (p &lt; 0.0001). Wari (22.95%), Larjam (19.67%), and Dir (18.08%) were found to be high-burden sub-divisions by geospatial analysis (p &lt; 0.0001). There was a male preponderance (57.14% vs. 42.86%; p = 0.002), and the most afflicted age group was children ages 1–10 (32.78%, p &lt; 0.0001). The best times for sandfly activity were July (36.06%) through September (19.67%), when seasonal maxima occurred. Clinically, the face was the most prevalent lesion location (29.50%), and dry lesions (59.01%) outweighed moist lesions (40.99%; p &lt; 0.0001). Workers (24.59%; p &lt; 0.0001) and shepherds (34.42%) had the highest occupational hazards. These results emphasize the need for focused interventions in high-risk groups and seasonal transmission hotspots, highlighting the intricate interactions between behavioral, environmental, and demographic aspects in CL transmission. For the purpose of directing public health initiatives for CL control in endemic areas, this study offers vital evidence.</jats:p>
BT - Indus Journal of Bioscience Research
DO - 10.70749/ijbr.v3i5.1014
IS - 5
LA - eng
M3 - Original Research Article
N2 - <jats:p>Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a major public health concern in areas where it is prevalent, including District Upper Dir of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. In order to determine risk factors and transmission patterns, this study examined the epidemiological and clinical features of 336 laboratory-confirmed CL cases. Significant ethnic differences were found in the data, with native Pakistanis accounting for 42.62% of cases and Afghan refugees for 57.37% (p &lt; 0.0001). Wari (22.95%), Larjam (19.67%), and Dir (18.08%) were found to be high-burden sub-divisions by geospatial analysis (p &lt; 0.0001). There was a male preponderance (57.14% vs. 42.86%; p = 0.002), and the most afflicted age group was children ages 1–10 (32.78%, p &lt; 0.0001). The best times for sandfly activity were July (36.06%) through September (19.67%), when seasonal maxima occurred. Clinically, the face was the most prevalent lesion location (29.50%), and dry lesions (59.01%) outweighed moist lesions (40.99%; p &lt; 0.0001). Workers (24.59%; p &lt; 0.0001) and shepherds (34.42%) had the highest occupational hazards. These results emphasize the need for focused interventions in high-risk groups and seasonal transmission hotspots, highlighting the intricate interactions between behavioral, environmental, and demographic aspects in CL transmission. For the purpose of directing public health initiatives for CL control in endemic areas, this study offers vital evidence.</jats:p>
PB - Indus Publishers
PY - 2025
SP - 245
EP - 250
T2 - Indus Journal of Bioscience Research
TI - Epidemiological and Clinical Determinants of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in District Dir Upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan: A Case-Based Analysis of 336 Confirmed Infections
UR - https://induspublishers.com/IJBR/article/view/1014/1181
VL - 3
SN - 2960-2807, 2960-2793
ER -