Old World Cutaneous Leishmaniasis and Refugee Crises in the Middle East and North Africa

Du, Rebecca Y.; Hotez, Peter J.; Al-Salem, Waleed S.; Acosta-Serrano, Álvaro

doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0004545

Cited by 105 publications

(109 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…9 Our findings further substantiate the concern regarding infectious diseases threatening Syrian refugees and the wider Jordanian community. The Syrian refugee crisis has precipitated a catastrophic outbreak of Old World cutaneous leishmaniasis affecting hundreds of thousands of people living in refugee camps or trapped in conflict zones.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 73%

Skin disease profile of Syrian refugees in Jordan: a field‐mission assessment

Saikal

Mir

et al. 2019

Acad Dermatol Venereol

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Background Since the beginning of the Syrian war in 2011, the world has faced the most severe refugee crisis in history and 5.6 million Syrians have sought asylum in neighbouring countries or in Europe. According to recent estimates, more than 650 000 Syrian refugees are displaced in Jordan. Objectives This article aims to assess the demographic characteristics and skin disease profile of Syrian displaced people residing in Al Za'atari camp and in communities in Jordan. Furthermore, the authors discuss the barriers to healthcare provision experienced during field missions. Methods This is a retrospective analysis of medical records collected during three medical missions in Jordan by an international dermatological team. Data on patient age, gender, country of origin and skin disease diagnoses were recorded both in Al Za'atari camp and Jordanian towns near the Syrian border. Results A total of 1197 patients were assessed during the field missions, with 67.7% female and 37.1% under the age of 14 years. Dermatitis was the leading dermatological condition in both refugee camp and community healthcare clinics. Infectious diseases were the second most common; however, fungal presentations were more common in the community as opposed to viral in Al Za'atari. Conclusions High dermatitis presentations were likely secondary to the environment, living conditions and lack of access to emollients. Infectious diseases were postulated secondary to poor hygiene and sharing of overcrowded spaces. Barriers to health care included limited pharmacological formulary, difficulty in continuity of care and case referrals due to lack of specialized services. Better access to health care, improvement of living conditions and hygiene, and increased availability of medications including emollients and sunscreens are all interventions that should be carried out to reduce skin disease burden. Our findings should further urge the international community to uphold their commitments and uptake engagement in improving health care for Syrian displaced people.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 73%

Skin disease profile of Syrian refugees in Jordan: a field‐mission assessment

Saikal

Mir

et al. 2019

Acad Dermatol Venereol

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“…Outbreaks and epidemics of leishmaniasis are reported due to movement of populations bringing infected individuals to susceptible vectors or exposing naïve individuals to infected vectors . Recent evidence of the impact of political instabilities on the incidence of leishmaniasis has been reported in Sudan and Middle East . Consequently, with the report of L. donovani s.l.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

First detection of Leishmania donovani in sand flies from Cameroon and its epidemiological implications

Tateng

Kirstein

Ngouateu

et al. 2018

Tropical Med Int Health

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The causative agent of CL could not be detected in potential vectors. Instead, we found evidence for visceral leishmaniasis (VL) parasites in Phlebotomus duboscqi as well as enzootic reptile parasites in the Mokolo area. We recommend that an epidemiological survey be carried out in the area to evaluate the prevalence and eventually describe the clinical manifestations of VL in the human population. Political instability in neighbouring countries and the resulting refugee migration are likely explanations for the emergence of VL in Mokolo.

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“…The visible signs of CL (chronic skin sores often on exposed parts of the body) broadcast an obvious indication of emerging infection in unprotected populations. While the Syrian Ministry of Health reported a twofold increase in CL cases in 2013, some feel the number of CL cases could exceed 100,000 per year [3]. In a GeoSentinel surveillance study, 32% of adult Syrian refugees evaluated for migration-related illness had CL [4].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Addressing a clinical challenge: guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of leishmaniasis

Aronson

2017

BMC Med

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Leishmaniasis is a chronic intracellular parasitic infection that travelers, immigrants, deployed military personnel, and refugees from endemic global areas acquire from the bite of infected sand flies and carry with them, including to non-endemic countries where leishmaniasis may be an unfamiliar illness to medical providers. This commentary discusses the first clinical practice guidelines produced by the Infectious Diseases Society of America and American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene for the diagnosis and management of leishmaniasis, targeted for clinicians in North America.

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Old World Cutaneous Leishmaniasis and Refugee Crises in the Middle East and North Africa

Cited by 105 publications

References 54 publications

Skin disease profile of Syrian refugees in Jordan: a field‐mission assessment

Skin disease profile of Syrian refugees in Jordan: a field‐mission assessment

First detection of Leishmania donovani in sand flies from Cameroon and its epidemiological implications

Addressing a clinical challenge: guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of leishmaniasis

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