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Many faces of
cutaneous leishmaniasis.Indian
J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2008 Jan-Feb;74(1):23-7.
BACKGROUND:
Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is known for its clinical diversity and
increasing numbers of new and rare variants of the disease are being
reported these days. AIM: The aim of this descriptive study was to
look for and report the atypical presentations of this common disease
occurring in Pakistan. METHODS: The study was carried out in three
hospitals (MH, Rawalpindi; PAF Hospital, Sargodha; and CMH,
Muzaffarabad) from 2002 to 2006. Military and civilian patients of all
ages, both males and females, belonging to central and north Punjab
province and Kashmir were included in the study. Clinical as well as
parasitological features of cutaneous leishmaniasis were studied. The
unusual lesions were photographed and categorized accordingly using
simple descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Out of 718 patients of
cutaneous leishmaniasis, 41 (5.7%) had unusual presentations. The
commonest among unusual morphologies was lupoid leishmaniasis 14
(34.1%), followed by sporotrichoid 5 (12.1%), paronychial 3 (7.3%),
lid leishmaniasis 2 (4.9%), psoriasiform 2 (4.9%), mycetoma-like 2
(4.9%), erysipeloid 2 (4.9%), chancriform 2 (4.9%), whitlow 1 (2.4%),
scar leishmaniasis 1 (2.4%), DLE-like 1 (2.4%), 'squamous cell
carcinoma'-like 1 (2.4%), zosteriform 1 (2.4%), eczematous 1 (2.4%),
verrucous 1 (2.4%), palmar/plantar 1 (2.4%) and mucocutaneous 1
(2.4%). CONCLUSION: In Pakistan, an endemic country for CL, the
possibility of CL should be kept in mind while diagnosing common
dermatological diseases like erysipelas, chronic eczema, herpes
zoster, paronychia; and uncommon disorders like lupus vulgaris,
squamous cell carcinoma, sporotrichosis, mycetoma and other deep
mycoses. |
