Cutaneous leishmaniasis in Kuwait

Abstract

During a study of cutaneous leishmaniasis, 33 patients from different districts in Kuwait were interviewed. Their lesions were examined clinically and microscopically. Most patients had multiple lesions (up to 60 per person), mainly distributed on the upper and lower limbs, and less frequently on the face, neck and trunk. Both sexes and all ages were affected. The incidence of the disease was recorded in most inhabited areas in Kuwait. The peak of incidence occurred in February.

The data showed that cutaneous leishmaniasis is endemic in Kuwait. This is attributed to several factors including the central location of Kuwait in an area of the Middle East where cutaneous leishmaniasis is endemic (Iraq, Iran and Saudi Arabia), the rapid increase in economic activities, the number of travellers and immigrants, and the change in ecological conditions and nature of the habitat for the sandfly vectors following the rapid urbanization of certain districts.