Leishmaniasis

John N. Gayk, MD Reviewed 05/2023

BASICS

A clinically diverse group of infections caused by protozoa of the genus Leishmania (transmitted by a bite from an infected female sandfly), ranging from a single self-healing ulcer (cutaneous)...

DIAGNOSIS

Signs and symptoms consistent with leishmaniasis in individuals from an endemic area or history of travel to an endemic area: chronic cutaneous ulcer; acutely febrile patients; fulminant dis...

TREATMENT

Treat under the supervision of, or in consultation with, a physician experienced in the management of leishmaniasis.
- Contact the CDC at (800) CDC-INFO (800-232-4636) or 404-718-4745 (HCPs onl...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

Patient Monitoring

Follow-up at 6 weeks, 3 months, and 12 months to evaluate treatment effectiveness and to detect relapses
- Lesion size should decrease by 2/3 by 6 ...

REFERENCES

Mannan SB, Elhadad H, Loc TTH, et al. Prevalence and associated factors of asymptomatic leishmaniasis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Parasitol Int. 2020:102229.

Burza S, Croft SL...

ADDITIONAL READING

Aronson N, Herwaldt B, Libman M, et al. Diagnosis and treatment of leishmaniasis: clinical practice guidelines by the Infectious Diseases Society of Am...

CODES

ICD10

B55.9 Leishmaniasis, unspecified
B55.1 Cutaneous leishmaniasis
B55.0 Visceral leishmaniasis
B55.2 Mucocutaneous leishmaniasis

SNOMED

80612004 leishmaniasis (disorder)
240637006 cutaneous leishman...

CLINICAL PEARLS

A nonhealing cutaneous ulcer in a patient with the appropriate history of travel to endemic area is leishmaniasis until proven otherwise.
Consider VL in febrile travelers with organomeg...

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