American tegumentary leishmaniasis in children: epidemiological aspects of cases treated in Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil

Children from birth to 14 years of age with American tegumentary leishmaniasis were monitored at the Foundation for Tropical Medicine in the State of Amazonas, Brazil, from January to December 2005; 147 cases were recorded, 55.78% of which were male and 48.3% from the Rio Preto da Eva district. For 90 patients (67.67%), parents or guardians were interviewed about housing in the area where the infection was presumably acquired and the child's habits. Of the group, 58.89% of the children lived in the presumed area of infection, 60% customarily entered the forest with their parents, 91.11% lived in households with domestic animals, 77.78% of the residences were located within 100 meters of the forest; and 76.67% of the patients had at least one relative with a history of American tegumentary leishmaniasis. The transmission pattern was related to activities in the forest around the houses and the living situation near the primary forest, with cases of American tegumentary leishmaniasis found in very young children, suggesting transmission in and around the house, and in a few cases, children entering the forest.