Leishmaniasis
From The Cure For The Needy
Contents |
Leishmaniasis
Background
Leishmaniasis is a disease caused by protozoan parasites and is transmitted by the bite of certain species of sand fly. There are four forms of Leishmaniasis:
• Cutaneous leishmaniasis - the most common form which causes a sore at the bite site, which heal in a few months to a year, leaving an unpleasant looking scar. This form can progress to any of the other three forms.
• Visceral leishmaniasis - the most serious form and potentially fatal if untreated. In this form, the parasites have migrated to the vital internal organs.
• 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 particularly to the nose and mouth
Parasite resistance is the main obstacle in finding effective treatment.
Current Treatments
Further Reading
wikipedia:Leishmaniasis
Wikipedia Entry on Leishmaniasis
CDC Fact Sheet
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Fact Sheet and other information
WHO-Leishmaniasis
Information from the World Health Organization on Leishmaniasis
WHO-TDR-Lesihmaniasis
The Tropical Disease Research and Training Division of WHO's information
TropIKA: Leishmaniasis
TDR's TropIKA.net (Tropical Disease Research to foster Innovation and Knowledge Application) contains many resources, such as journal articles, related to tropical diseases
DPDx - Leishmaniasis
CDC's Division of Parasitic Diseases - information on the life cycle of the causal agent