Background:
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.
Methods:
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.
Results:
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.
Conclusion:
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.
BT - Frontier in Medical & Health Research DA - 12/2025 IS - 10 LA - ENG M3 - Article N2 -Background:
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.
Methods:
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.
Results:
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.
Conclusion:
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.
PY - 2014 SP - 2605 EP - 2616 T2 - Frontier in Medical & Health Research TI - 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 UR - 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/ VL - 3 SN - 3007-1607 ER -