Emerging Infectious Diseases
Volume 20, Issue 10, 2014, Pages 1712-1715

Ongoing epidemic of cutaneous leishmaniasis among Syrian refugees, Lebanon (Article) (Open Access)

Saroufim M. , Charafeddine K. , Issa G. , Khalifeh H. , Habib R.H. , Berry A. , Ghosn N. , Rady A. , Khalifeh I.*
  • a American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
  • b American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
  • c American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
  • d American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
  • e American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
  • f Ministry of Public Health, Beirut, Lebanon
  • g Ministry of Public Health, Beirut, Lebanon
  • h World Health Organization, Beirut, Lebanon
  • i American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon

Abstract

In September 2012, a cutaneous leishmaniasis outbreak began among Syrian refugees in Lebanon. For 948 patients in whom leishmaniasis was not confirmed, we obtained samples for microscopic confirmation and molecular speciation. We identified Leishmania tropica in 85% and L. major in 15% of patients. After 3 months of megulamine antimonite therapy, patients initial cure rate was 82%. © 2014, Emerging Infectious Diseases. All rights reserved.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous refugee insect bite Syrian Arab Republic human head Refugees pathology organometallic compound meglumine antimoniate skin defect papular rash Young Adult Lebanon Humans sensory organ inflammation human tissue liver function test Adolescent meglumine male megulamine antimonate Leishmania major female preschool child unclassified drug Infant Child, Preschool electrocardiography blood cell count refugee camp polymerase chain reaction Article epidemic major clinical study migration Syria neck antiinfective agent skin leishmaniasis punch biopsy Leishmania tropica Organometallic Compounds creatinine Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84907291516&doi=10.3201%2feid2010.140288&partnerID=40&md5=8273438b12b1e8a49611f584c187e28a
DOI: 10.3201/eid2010.140288
ISSN: 10806040
Cited by: 45
Original Language: English