Analysis of epidemiologic features of visceral leishmaniasis in different age groups in China from 2005 to 2012 / 中华传染病杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To analyze the epidemiologic features of visceral leishmaniasis in different age groups in China from 2005 to 2012,and to provide a scientific basis for prevention and treatment of the disease.Methods The visceral leishmaniasis cases were obtained from China disease epidemic monitoring information system from 2005 to 2012.All the cases were divided into subgroups by demographic characteristicsinfant (＜1 year old),childcare (≥1 and ＜4 years old),child (≥4 and ＜15 years old),adult (≥15 and ＜65 years old) and senior adult (above 65 years old).The epidemiologic features,such as gender,season of disease onset and area distribution of visceral leishmaniasis were analyzed.Results The total reported visceral leishmaniasis from 2005 to 2012 were 2 979,among which cases in infant,childcare,child,adult and senior adult were 24.9％,21.7％,20.0％,32.4％ and 1.0％,respectively.Infant cases were most reported in April; childcare cases in December which began to increase since September; child cases in October and adult and senior adult in March.The reported cases were mainly from Xinjiang,Gansu and Sichuan areas.However,age characteristics differed among regions,which were mainly infants,both childcare and children,and adults,respectively in this three areas.The duration from onset to diagnosis was shortest in infant group (11 d) and longer in adult group (15 d).Conclusions The number of visceral leishmaniasis cases in different age groups peaks in different months.Regional distribution is not even.Cases are most concentrated in Xinjiang,Gansu and Sichuan areas.Infants predominate in Xinjiang,childcare and children in Gansu and adults in Sichuan.