Epidemiology and Risk Factors of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in the West Bank, Palestine: A Cross-Sectional Study

BackgroundLeishmaniasis Is a vector-borne disease caused by obligate intracellular protozoan flagellate parasite, that is transmitted by the bite of infected female phlebotomine sandflies. Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) is endemic in the Middle East, its a major public health concern in Palestine, the current control strategies for Leishmaniasis depend on reservoir and vector control, active case detection and treatment of their disease and the use of insecticides. ObjectivesThis study aims to describe the epidemiology, clinical features, and risk factors of CL in the West Bank, Palestine, from 2020 to 2023. MethodsA retrospective study included all cases of CL that had been reported to the Leishmaniasis Surveillance System in the Department of preventive medicine at the Palestinian Ministry of Health during the period from 2020 to 2023. A total of 322 cases were reported and met the case definition. demographic details, lesion characteristics, and environmental risk factors., Independent t-test and ANOVA were used to obtain the differences between the groups according to lesion duration, number of lesion. FindingsA total of 322 cases of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis were diagnosed in preventive medicine departments in West bank during the period 2020 till 2023, the ages of patients ranges between less than one year to 82 years old, most cases were young, with mean age of 24 years old, the male to female ratio was 3:2, most patients were illiterate. The number of skin lesions was significantly higher in males, farmers and most patients have face lesions mainly nodules. while the duration of the skin lesions was significantly higher in older patients. ConclusionsCL is endemic in the West Bank. Public health strategies should emphasize early detection, community awareness, and targeted vector control measures. FundingNo funding was provided for this research.