ETHIOPIAN CUTANEOUS AND MUCOCUTANEOUS LEISHMANIASIS

ETHIOPIAN CUTANEOUS AND MUCOCUTANEOUS LEISHMANIASIS

Color Atlas

International Congress Blood & Skin 2015, New perspectives for neglected diseases – 18th/21th November 2015 Addis Ababa – Aksum

Cutaneous (CL) and mucocutaneous (MLC) leishmeniasis are common in Ethiopia, specially on the highlands. Clinical cases were observed at IDC (Italian Dermatological Center) in Ayder hospital of Mekele, capital of Tigray region, in a five year period (2005/210). Patients were coming from different  regions. On the basis of experience, we selected the different clinical presentations of cutaneous leishmaniasis seen in this length of time, in the attempt to better identify and diagnose them.

Clinically, cutaneous leishmaniasis has a wide clinical spectrum. Its cutaneous lesions may resemble many other skin conditions. For these reason, we tried a clinical classification of the different clinical presentations of the cutaneous and mucocutaneous Ethiopian leishmaniasis, to keep in  mind all the possible manifestations of the disease.

We hope this atlas can be useful in considering leishmaniasis as a differential diagnosis.