Investigation of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in the Patients Referred to the Referential Laboratories of Qom Health Center From March 2016 to February 2022

Background and Objectives: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a common zoonotic disease that is transmitted by sandflies. This disease has become endemic in different regions of Iran. This study aims to determine the epidemiological aspects of CL in Qom, Iran from 2016 to 2022. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the data of all patients with CL referred to clinics in Qom city from March 2016 to February 2022 were evaluated. Independent t-test, Chi-square test, and Fisher’s exact test were used for data analysis. Results: Of 1084 participants, 719 had infection with CL, of whom 539 were male (75%) and 180 were female (25%). Most of patients had 20-30 years of age and 87.3% had a history of traveling to disease endemic areas. The prevalence of CL was higher in autumn. Moreover, 32.2% of the patients had three or more skin lesions, and in 49.3% of cases, the lesions were in the hand. Conclusion: Considering the prevalence of CL in Qom, it is necessary to take effective health measures to control and prevent CL in this re