Lupoid mucocutaneous leishmaniasis

Introduction. Leishmaniasis is a parasitic infection caused by different species of the intracellular protozoan Leishmania and transmitted through the bite of an infected female sand fly. It occurs in various clinical forms, including cutaneous manifestations. Objective. To present a case of lupoid mucocutaneous leishmaniasis in a patient from Ethiopia. Case report. A 17-year-old man with no significant medical history presented with papular, plaque and ulcerative lesions in the central region of face that had been present for one year. A smear followed by Giemsa stain revealed the presence of amastigotes in monocytes and extracellular matrix. Based on the clinical manifestation and microscopic examination, the diagnosis of mucocutaneous leishmaniasis was established. The treatment was based on N-methylglucamine antimoniate, with subsequent resolution of skin lesions. Conclusions. Mucocutaneous leishmaniasis, including the lupoid subtype, is an important clinical entity in endemic areas. Treatment with antimony derivatives may be beneficial in affected subjects.