Leishmaniasis is a skin disease caused by the bite of an insect. Primarily caused by protozoa of the Leishmania species, this disease is transmitted by the bite of a particular species of sandfly.
Clinically, the disease is classified into three
The cutaneous leishmaniasis affects the outer skin of the body. The skin may break out in sores that look like the sores caused in tuberculosis, leprosy and syphilis. Sometimes, in more severe cases, the appearance of the skin is skin-cancer like. Ordinarily, the skin appears to have developed a fungal infection.
The mucocutaneous leishmaniasis affects the mucous membranes of the body. It is not unusual for ulcers to form on the mucous membranes. While the other two conditions affect certain parts of the body, visceral leishmaniasis may affect the entire body. Usually this condition is fatal owing to its many deadly complications. The immune system gets systematically damaged by the parasites involved in this condition.
In children the symptoms are:
In adults the symptoms are:
Cutaneous leishmaniasis symptoms:
Leishmaniasis diagnosis is made through a complete physical exam. There is biopsy of spleen, bone marrow, lymph nodes and skin. Blood tests are also conducted to check for the Hemoglobin and immunoglobulins
This disorder cannot be treated with home remedies and should be treated only by a qualified medical practitioner. Medicines that contain antimony compounds are usually prescribed for this disorder.
If there is a lot of disfiguration due to the disease, plastic surgery may be required to correct the lesions and sores. In certain cases of visceral leishmaniasis, the spleen may have to be removed completely.