Leishmaniasis

Leishmaniasis is a parasitic infection caused by Leishmania protozoa and transmitted through the bite of infected female phlebotomine sand flies. It is found mainly in tropical and subtropical regions and falls hardest on the poorest communities, although only a small fraction of infected people go on to develop illness. Risk factors include poverty, poor housing and sanitation, malnutrition, a weak immune system, population movement and environmental change. The cutaneous form, the most common, causes skin ulcers; the mucocutaneous form damages the nose, mouth and throat; the visceral form (kala-azar) causes fever, weight loss, an enlarged spleen and liver, and anaemia. Diagnosis combines clinical signs with parasitological tests, with serological tests also used in the visceral form. Leishmaniasis is treatable and curable; the medicine chosen depends on the form, parasite species and patient factors, and options include antimony-containing medicines, while every visceral case needs prompt and complete treatment.

Seek urgent care for a high fever with a stiff neck, rash, confusion, difficulty breathing, or fever after travel to a malaria area. See a doctor when a fever lasts more than three days, when symptoms return after treatment, or when you may have been exposed to an infection that needs testing. Call the local emergency number for any symptom that is sudden and severe. This page is a reference for healthcare professionals and does not replace an assessment.