What is leishmaniasis?
Leishmaniasis is an infection caused by the Leishmania parasite. This type of parasite lives in tropical and subtropical areas.
Anti-parasitic medications are prescribed to treat the infection.
Leishmaniasis causes severe ulcers on the skin, and infection of internal organs (visceral leishmaniasis) is so dangerous that it can be fatal. People with weak immune systems are at risk.
Leishmaniasis is divided into three categories:
- Cutaneous;
- Mucosal;
- Visceral.
Symptoms depend on which type of leishmaniasis the patient has.
The following signs are characteristic of the parasitic disease:
- Large ulcers;
- Fever;
- Weight loss;
- Abdominal swelling;
- Chills;
- Cold sweats;
- Swollen lymph nodes;
- Fatigue;
- Weakness;
- Dark spots on the skin, etc.
The infection is spread by the bite of a sand fly. When the insect bites an infected person or animal and then bites another person, it transmits the Leishmania parasite.
Less common ways of transmission are:
- Sharing needles;
- Blood transfusions;
- Transmission from a pregnant woman to her fetus.
Source:
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24539-leishmaniasis
