Protozoa and Worms

70


Protozoa and Worms




Leishmaniasis



Three major forms: (1) cutaneous (Fig. 70.1); (2) mucocutaneous (Fig. 70.2); and (3) visceral (e.g. liver, spleen).




Caused by more than 15 different species of Leishmania (Table 70.1).



Vector = sandfly (Phlebotomus and Lutzomyia spp.) (Fig. 70.3).



Disease seen worldwide but endemic in areas of Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Mediterranean basin (Fig. 70.4).



Cutaneous disease affects skin only and is commonly a papule that expands and ulcerates (Fig. 70.5); pattern may be sporotrichoid (Fig. 70.6); lesion(s) may heal spontaneously (Fig. 70.7).





Mucocutaneous form, often due to Leishmania brasiliensis, involves mucosal (e.g. nose, lips, oropharynx) sites as well as the skin.


Visceral leishmaniasis (kala-azar) affects the bone marrow, spleen, and liver and is commonly due to Leishmania donovani; symptoms include fever, cough, lymphadeno­pathy, and hepatosplenomegaly; post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis may follow treatment.


Rx: for an isolated lesion, conservative therapy (e.g. observation, heat, cryotherapy) or topical paromycin can be used; for more extensive disease, IV or IM pentavalent antimony (sodium stibogluconate, meglumine antimonate), oral miltefosine.


For assistance in diagnosis and treatment, helpful sources of information include the Centers for Disease Control and World Health Organization.


Apr 22, 2016 | Posted by in Dermatology | Comments Off on Protozoa and Worms

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