Epidemiology of Leishmaniasis Disease in Şanlıurfa Between the Years of 2010 and 2019

Aim: In the present study, by making use of Geographical Information Systems, it was aimed to examine the changes in the number of cutaneous leishmaniasis cases in Şanlıurfa between the years 2010 and 2019 by the regions and to define the risky areas. Materials and Methods: The present study has a descriptive design. The universe of study consisted of patients, who applied to Leishmaniasis Diagnosis and Treatment Center (LDTC) and received the diagnosis of leishmaniasis and treatment in this facility between the years of 2010 and 2019. Patients’ age, gender, place of residence, total number of lesions, lesion location, lesion width, lesion clinic, and type of treatment were used in the present study. The maps were prepared involving only 68 neighborhoods having 10 or more cases. Results: Of 10,706 patients who applied to LDTC between the years of 2010 and 2019, 45.7% were male and 54.3% were female. It was determined that 80% of the cases detected between the years of 2010 and 2014 were residing in Şanlıurfa center. Considering the years between 2015 and 2019, 69% of the cases were living in Eyyübiye, one of the central districts. Given the heat maps, it was determined that the places, where the patients were living, vectorially shifted towards the southeast between the years of 2010 and 2015. Conclusion: While the northwestern neighborhoods in Şanlıurfa were risky in the early 2010s, the risk shifted to southeastern neighborhoods in the following years. It is thought that, in the coming years, majority of the cases would be in these neighborhoods because of the number of immigrants and environmental factors.