Leishmaniasis

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Leishmaniasis Symptoms & Signs

• history of exposure to the bite of sandflies
• history in being in an area known for leishmaniasis

Systemic illness (visceral leishmaniasis)

• fever, persistent, long duration (weeks), may cycle irregularly
• night sweats
• fatigue
• weakness
• appetite loss (anorexia)
• weight loss
• abdominal discomfort, vague
• vomiting (children)
• diarrhea (children)
• cough (children)
• skin, scaly
• skin, gray, dark, ashen
• hair, thinning

Skin disease (cutaneous leishmaniasis)
Symptoms on the skin include:

• macule or papule, erythematous
• skin ulcer, forms at site of original lesion
• ulcer heals very slowly over a matter of months
• smaller lesions may form around the ulcer (satellite lesions)

Symptoms on mucous membranes include:

• nasal stuffiness
• runny nose (coryza)
• nosebleed (epistaxis)
• ulcers and erosion of tissue (mouth, tongue, gums, lips, nose, nasal septum)
• swallowing difficulty (dysphagia) with esophageal involvement
• breathing difficulty, with tracheal involvement