Leishmaniasis is a disease of
tropical and subtropical areas, caused by a protozoan of the order
Kinetoplastida, Trypanosomatidae family, genus Leishmania spp. with multiple
species and high phenotypic diversity. It is transmitted to humans by the bite
of Phlebotomus spp. in Africa, Europe and Asia, and Lutzomyia spp. In America.
It can occur in pets such as dogs, or wild as sloths, opossums and small
mammals.
This disease is endemic in 98
countries, mainly in India, Central and South America, Southern Europe, North
Africa and the Middle East. About 90% of cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis are
in Brazil, Peru, Pakistan, Syria, Algeria, Afghanistan and Iran; with an
estimated number of incident cases per year of 500,000. These data show its
importance to public health, especially to keep in mind that this disease
produces an adverse impact on psychological, social, economic and occupational
dimensions of those affected.
The disease
control focuses on chemotherapy and preventing transmission of the
parasite; treatment due to factors such as the parasite species, the clinical
form, geographic location and availability of drugs. Treatment options include
cryotherapy, thermotherapy, paromomycin, imiquimod, antimonial, pentamidine,
imidazole, oral fluconazole, ketoconazole, amphotericin B and miltefosine;
which have differences in adverse effects, effectiveness, access and cost;
making it difficult to further its control.
No comments:
Post a Comment