By NewsDesk @bactiman63
Officials at Hajin Hospital are reporting a widespread surge of cutaneous leishmaniasis, aka Aleppo boil, among children in Hajin and its villages east of Deir ez-Zor, according a Radio Al-kul report.
It is reported that 1750 cases among children have been seen this year in the area and demonstrates the need for urgent medical intervention.
Leishmaniasis lesions require lengthy and expensive treatment because the medicine is imported. It is difficult for the people to treat leishmaniasis in light of the deteriorating financial and living conditions.
Suheir Al-Atta, a specialist and head of the leishmaniasis treatment committee in Deir ez-Zor said that most of the cases are concentrated in the regions of eastern Deir ez-Zor and among children within schools, especially between the age group of 7 to 15 years. She indicated that it is expected that the number of cases will exceed 3000 in the coming days.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease that is found in parts of the tropics, subtropics, and southern Europe. Leishmaniasis is caused by infection with Leishmania parasites, which are spread by the bite of infected sand flies. There are several different forms of leishmaniasis in people. The most common forms are cutaneous leishmaniasis, which causes skin sores, and visceral leishmaniasis, which affects several internal organs (usually spleen, liver, and bone marrow).
People with cutaneous leishmaniasis who develop clinical evidence of infection have one or more sores on their skin. The sores can change in size and appearance over time. The sores may start out as papules (bumps) or nodules (lumps) and may end up as ulcers (like a volcano, with a raised edge and central crater); skin ulcers may be covered by scab or crust. The sores usually are painless but can be painful.
There is not a vaccine available to prevent leishmaniasis. The best way is to avoid sandfly bites.
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