Study of the epidemiological attributes of visceral leishmaniasis in Meshkin-Shahr district, Ardebil Province, North-West of Iran (1987-2006)

Leishmaniasis is one of the most important parasitic diseases in terms of human injury and economic consequences which has a wide range of clinical protests of skin damage to fatal visceral discomfort covers. Kala-azar is a Mediterranean-type in Iran and its main reservoirs are dogs and canine family. Currently the most common disease centers are in parts of provinces such as Ardebil, Fars, East of Azerbaijan, Bushehr, Qom, and North of Khorasan. This study aimed to review the epidemiological characteristics of kala-azar cases in hospitalized patients and cases reported to health centers and Emam-Khomeini hospital in Meshkin-Shahr County.Methods and Materials: This retrospective descriptive study was performed over a period of 20 years, from 1986 until 2006. Collected epidemiological data of visceral leishmaniasis in human were analyzed by spss. The total number of patients from the year 1988 to 2005 that were affected by this disease and were reported in Emam-Khomeini hospital and health centers of Meshkin-Shahr County were 2623. With respect to age division, 98.1 percent were below 10 years old; 54.8 percent were male and 45.2 percent were female based on sexuality and the male to female ratio of disease was1.2 respectively. The maximum out breaking of kala-azar disease with 32.6 percent were in spring and winter, the minimum with 17.5 percent in summer and 17.1 percent in autumn. Most of the patients lived in rural areas. Visceral leishmaniasis is a major health problem in Meshkin-Shahr County, in particular within the rural areas. Educational programs alongside ecological studies and more intense control is recommended.