Background: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is an endemic disease transmitted by bite of infective female sand fly. CL is caused by Leishmania major and L. tropica. L. tropica is restricted to human beings.

Objective: This work aimed to study the prevalence of CL in Al-Ahssa, Saudi Arabia.

Patients & methods: A retrospective study of cases infected with CL from 2009 to 2010 from Saudi vector central unit databases.

Results: In the study period, there were 444 patients in 2009 and 457 patients in 2010 infected with CL. The ratio of Saudi male to female was 2:1, whereas infected non-Saudi male to female was 33:1. Age of male patient was higher than in female patient in both Saudi and non-Saudi cases. Urbans are the most affected, while Bedouins are the least affected. The lesions are mostly single and the face is the most affected site in patients who are below 15 years, while those above 45 years are mostly affected by lower limb lesions.

Conclusions: CL is an endemic disease in Saudi Arabia especially the eastern region. The presence of rodents and sandflies makes it a suitable environment for Leishmania to spread. Therefore, public health and vector measures are required to decrease the prevalence of CL in Al-Ahssa.