Clinical and parasitological prevalence of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Mokolo focus; Far Province of Cameroon

ABSTRACT

Clinico-parasitological screening of 3866 individuals in the Mokolo region of northern Cameroon gave 0.94 percent of those with active lesions. The diagnosis of scars was mainly clinical. For lesions; the clinical diagnosis was confirmed by the demonstration of parasites on Giemsa stained smears. Both sexes were equally infected. The highest number of people with active lesions (51.43 percent) was recorded in the 2-15 years age group; most being students. It was during the rainy season that many people acquired the infection. The localization of lesions and/or scars on the body was considered in the study and gave the following repartition 43.16 percent on the upper limbs; 28.42 percent on the lower limbs; 21.05 percent on the head and 7.37 percent on the trunk. A therapeutic regime of amphotericin B (topical application) and metronidazole (per os) was administered to some patients who responded satisfactorily