Leishmaniasis Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description

Leishmaniasis is a disease caused by parasites that belong to the genus Leishmania and is transmitted by the bite of certain species of sand fly. Synonyms for leishmaniasis include kala azar, Black Fever and Dum-Dum fever. The disease is named for William Boog Leishman. Most forms of the disease are zoonosis but some are anthroponosis

Table of contents

1 Epidemiology 2 Signs and symptoms 3 External links

Epidemiology

It can be transmitted in many tropical and sub-tropical countries, although the preponderance of cases (more than 90 percent of the world's cases) occur in Bangladesh, Brazil, India, Nepal and Sudan.

Leishmaniasis is present in Iraq and was contracted by a number of the troops involved in the 2003 invasion of that country and the subsequent occupation. The soldiers nicknamed the disease the Baghdad boil.

The disease is not found in Australia or Oceania.

Signs and symptoms

The symptoms of leishmaniasis are skin sores which erupt weeks to months after the person affected is bitten by sand flies. Other consequences, which can become manifest anywhere from a few months to years after infection, include fever, damage to the spleen and liver, and anaemia.

In the medical field, leishmaniasis is one of the famous causes of a markedly enlarged spleen (larger even than the liver). There are four main forms of leishmaniasis:

• Visceral leishmaniasis - the most serious form and potentially fatal if untreated.
• Cutaneous leishmaniasis - the most common form which causes numerous sores on the body, which heal within a few months leaving unpleasant looking scars.
• Diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis - this form produces widespread skin lesions which resemble leprosy and is particularly difficult to treat.
• Mucocutaneous leishmaniasis - commences with skin ulcers which spread causing tissue damage to (particularly) nose and mouth

There are two common therapies containing antimony, antimoniate de méglumine (Glucantime) and sodium stibogluconate (Pentostam). It is not completely understood how these drugs act against the parasite, possibly by disrupting its energy production.

External links

There is a site The International Leishmania Network (ILN) that has basic information on the disease and links to many aspects of the disease and its vector.

There is also a discussion list (Leish-L) which can be subscribed to. There are over 600 subscribers to the list. Comments and questions are welcomed.

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