ABSTRACT
In 2001 a visceral leishmaniasis (VL) surveillance system was set up for children aged < or = 12 years in the primary health system in Meshkin-Shahr district of Ardebil province, north-western Islamic Republic of Iran. All cases with clinical signs and symptoms of VL and positive by the direct agglutination test were referred for physical examination and treatment. The mean annual incidence of VL decreased significantly from 1.88 before (1985-2000) to 0.77 per 1000 child population after the intervention (2001-07). In a control area with no surveillance, it increased from 0.11 to 0.23 per 1000. Early detection of VL using practical serological tests and timely treatment of cases could decrease the mortality and morbidity rates of VL in endemic areas.
Subject(s)
Child Health Services/organization & administration , Leishmaniasis, Visceral , Population Surveillance/methods , Primary Health Care/organization & administration , Referral and Consultation/organization & administration , Agglutination Tests , Chi-Square Distribution , Child , Disease Notification/methods , Endemic Diseases/prevention & control , Endemic Diseases/statistics & numerical data , Humans , Incidence , Iran/epidemiology , Leishmaniasis, Visceral/diagnosis , Leishmaniasis, Visceral/drug therapy , Leishmaniasis, Visceral/epidemiology , Longitudinal Studies , Mass Screening/organization & administration , Program EvaluationABSTRACT
In 2001 a visceral leishmaniasis (VL) surveillance system was set up for children aged ≤ 12 years inthe primary health system in Meshkin-Shahr district of Ardebil province, north-western Islamic Republic ofIran. All cases with clinical signs and symptoms of VL and positive by the direct agglutination test were referredfor physical examination and treatment. The mean annual incidence of VL decreased significantly from 1.88before (1985–2000) to 0.77 per 1000 child population after the intervention (2001–07). In a control area with nosurveillance, it increased from 0.11 to 0.23 per 1000. Early detection of VL using practical serological tests andtimely treatment of cases could decrease the mortality and morbidity rates of VL in endemic areas
En 2001, un système de surveillance de la leishmaniose viscérale a été mis en place pour les enfants âgésde 0 à 12 ans dans le système de santé primaire du district de Meshkin-Shahr, province d’Ardebil, nord-ouest dela République islamique d’Iran. Tous les cas présentant des signes cliniques et des symptômes de leishmanioseviscérale ainsi qu’une réaction positive au test d’agglutination directe étaient orientés en vue d’un examen physiqueet d’un traitement. L’incidence annuelle moyenne de la leishmaniose viscérale a nettement diminué, passant de1,88 avant l’intervention (1985-2000) à 0,77 pour 1 000 enfants après l’intervention (2001-2006). Elle a augmentédans une zone témoin sans surveillance, passant de 0,11 à 0,23 pour 1 000 enfants. Un dépistage précoce dela leishmaniose viscérale à l’aide de tests sérologiques pratiques et une prise en charge rapide des cas permettraientde réduire les taux de mortalité et de morbidité de la leishmaniose viscérale dans les zones endémiques
