ABSTRACT
La leishmaniasis es una enfermedad crónica causada por un protozoo flagelado perteneciente al género Leishmania. Tiene distribución mundial, aunque la mayoría de los casos se agrupan en América del Sur, la cuenca mediterránea y algunas zonas de Asia y África. Existen 3 formas fundamentales de enfermedad: cutánea (la más frecuente), mucocutánea y visceral, también denominada kala-azar, la forma más grave. El diagnóstico se establece con la demostración de la presencia de los amastigotes en muestras clínicas, mediante visión directa al microscopio o mediante técnicas moleculares. Existen múltiples opciones terapéuticas, aunque la evidencia en la que se basa el tratamiento de la leishmaniasis cutánea es débil. Actualmente, las alteraciones de la inmunidad producidas por factores como el VIH o el uso de fármacos anti-TNF han cambiado tanto la forma de presentación de las formas clínicas clásicas como sus tratamientos (AU)
Leishmaniasis is a chronic disease caused by flagellate protozoa of the genus Leishmania. It is a global disease, but most cases are seen in South America, the Mediterranean, and some areas of Asia and Africa. The 3 main types of leishmaniasis are cutaneous (the most common), mucocutaneous, and visceral (the most severe). Visceral leishmaniasis is also known as kala-azar. Leishmaniasis is diagnosed by demonstrating the presence of Leishmania amastigotes in clinical specimens using direct microscopic examination or molecular analysis. Various treatments exist, although the evidence supporting the options available for cutaneous leishmaniasis is weak. Both the classical presentation of leishmaniasis and our management of the disease have changed in recent decades because of acquired immune deficiency caused by conditions such as HIV infection or the use of TNF inhibitors (AU)
Subject(s)
Humans , Leishmaniasis, Mucocutaneous , Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous , HIV Infections , Coinfection , Leishmaniasis, Mucocutaneous/epidemiology , Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous/epidemiology , Leishmaniasis, Mucocutaneous/diagnosis , Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous/diagnosis , Leishmaniasis, Mucocutaneous/therapy , Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous/therapy , Diagnosis, DifferentialABSTRACT
Leishmaniasis is a chronic disease caused by flagellate protozoa of the genus Leishmania. It is a global disease, but most cases are seen in South America, the Mediterranean, and some areas of Asia and Africa. The 3 main types of leishmaniasis are cutaneous (the most common), mucocutaneous, and visceral (the most severe). Visceral leishmaniasis is also known as kala-azar. Leishmaniasis is diagnosed by demonstrating the presence of Leishmania amastigotes in clinical specimens using direct microscopic examination or molecular analysis. Various treatments exist, although the evidence supporting the options available for cutaneous leishmaniasis is weak. Both the classical presentation of leishmaniasis and our management of the disease have changed in recent decades because of acquired immune deficiency caused by conditions such as human immunodeficiency infection or the use of tumor necrosis factor inhibitors.
ABSTRACT
Leishmaniasis is a chronic disease caused by flagellate protozoa of the genus Leishmania. It is a global disease, but most cases are seen in South America, the Mediterranean, and some areas of Asia and Africa. The 3 main types of leishmaniasis are cutaneous (the most common), mucocutaneous, and visceral (the most severe). Visceral leishmaniasis is also known as kala-azar. Leishmaniasis is diagnosed by demonstrating the presence of Leishmania amastigotes in clinical specimens using direct microscopic examination or molecular analysis. Various treatments exist, although the evidence supporting the options available for cutaneous leishmaniasis is weak. Both the classical presentation of leishmaniasis and our management of the disease have changed in recent decades because of acquired immune deficiency caused by conditions such as HIV infection or the use of TNF inhibitors.