What is leishmaniasis?
Q: What is leishmaniasis?
A: Leishmaniasis, also known as leishmaniosis, is a disease caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania. It is spread by the bite of certain types of sandflies.
Q: What are the three forms of leishmaniasis?
A: The three forms of leishmaniasis are cutaneous leishmaniasis (skin ulcers), mucocutaneous leishmaniasis (ulcers on the skin, mouth and nose) and visceral leishmaniasis (starts with skin ulcers, then fever, low red blood cells and a large spleen and liver).
Q: What are some risk factors for getting this disease?
A: Risk factors for getting this disease include poverty, malnutrition, deforestation and urbanization.
Q: How can it be diagnosed?
A: All three types can be diagnosed by identifying the parasites under a microscope. The visceral form can also be diagnosed with a blood test.
Q: How can it be prevented?
A: Leishmaniasis can be partly prevented by sleeping under nets treated with insecticide or using insecticides to kill sandflies. Early treatment of people with the disease also helps prevent further spread.
Q: What medications are used to treat it?
A: Medications used for treating visceral form include liposomal amphotericin B, a combination of pentavalent antimonials and paromomycin, and miltefosine. For cutaneous form, paromomycin, fluconazole or pentamidine may help.
Q: Who is most affected by this disease?
A: About 200 million people in Asia, Africa South America Central America Southern Europe live in areas where this disease is common . Each year between 20 thousand - 50 thousand people die from this diseases .
