Misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis: a case report
Abstract Background Leishmaniasis is a widespread disease in tropical and subtropical countries, except for Australia and Oceania. In Poland, tourists, migrants and travellers from leishmaniasis-endemic countries may carry Leishmania. Case presentation We present a case of undiagnosed cutaneous lei...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-08-01
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| Series: | Tropical Diseases, Travel Medicine and Vaccines |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40794-022-00175-5 |
| _version_ | 1817968076258279424 |
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| author | Katarzyna Sikorska Marta Gesing Romuald Olszański Anna Roszko-Wysokińska Beata Szostakowska Katarzyna Van Damme-Ostapowicz |
| author_facet | Katarzyna Sikorska Marta Gesing Romuald Olszański Anna Roszko-Wysokińska Beata Szostakowska Katarzyna Van Damme-Ostapowicz |
| author_sort | Katarzyna Sikorska |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Leishmaniasis is a widespread disease in tropical and subtropical countries, except for Australia and Oceania. In Poland, tourists, migrants and travellers from leishmaniasis-endemic countries may carry Leishmania. Case presentation We present a case of undiagnosed cutaneous leishmaniasis in a patient who received many weeks of inadequate antibiotic treatment. Ulceration in the right submandibular region was thought to be a purulent complication after laser surgery. Six weeks before the ulcer developed, the patient had visited the jungle (Guatemala). Cutaneous leishmaniasis was finally diagnosed after nine months based on a proper history and a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. Treatment with antimony derivatives was administered. After three months, the ulcer healed but left a scar. Conclusion A lack of knowledge about tropical diseases among doctors and an incomplete medical history were the reasons for many weeks of erroneous treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis with antibiotics. This is the first reported case of cutaneous leishmaniasis misdiagnosed as a complication after an aesthetic medical procedure. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T20:04:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9f305ad20775408ea8987fb60e7093dd |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2055-0936 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T20:04:13Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Tropical Diseases, Travel Medicine and Vaccines |
| spelling | doaj.art-9f305ad20775408ea8987fb60e7093dd2022-12-22T02:32:06ZengBMCTropical Diseases, Travel Medicine and Vaccines2055-09362022-08-01811510.1186/s40794-022-00175-5Misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis: a case reportKatarzyna Sikorska0Marta Gesing1Romuald Olszański2Anna Roszko-Wysokińska3Beata Szostakowska4Katarzyna Van Damme-Ostapowicz5Division of Tropical Medicine and Epidemiology, Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of GdanskDepartment of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of GdanskUniversity Center for Maritime and Tropical MedicineUniversity Center for Maritime and Tropical MedicineDivision of Tropical Parasitology, Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of GdanskDepartment of Health and Caring Sciences, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Western Norway University of Applied SciencesAbstract Background Leishmaniasis is a widespread disease in tropical and subtropical countries, except for Australia and Oceania. In Poland, tourists, migrants and travellers from leishmaniasis-endemic countries may carry Leishmania. Case presentation We present a case of undiagnosed cutaneous leishmaniasis in a patient who received many weeks of inadequate antibiotic treatment. Ulceration in the right submandibular region was thought to be a purulent complication after laser surgery. Six weeks before the ulcer developed, the patient had visited the jungle (Guatemala). Cutaneous leishmaniasis was finally diagnosed after nine months based on a proper history and a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. Treatment with antimony derivatives was administered. After three months, the ulcer healed but left a scar. Conclusion A lack of knowledge about tropical diseases among doctors and an incomplete medical history were the reasons for many weeks of erroneous treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis with antibiotics. This is the first reported case of cutaneous leishmaniasis misdiagnosed as a complication after an aesthetic medical procedure.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40794-022-00175-5Cutaneous leishmaniasisDiagnosisTravelTreatmentPCRCase report |
| spellingShingle | Katarzyna Sikorska Marta Gesing Romuald Olszański Anna Roszko-Wysokińska Beata Szostakowska Katarzyna Van Damme-Ostapowicz Misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis: a case report Tropical Diseases, Travel Medicine and Vaccines Cutaneous leishmaniasis Diagnosis Travel Treatment PCR Case report |
| title | Misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis: a case report |
| title_full | Misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis: a case report |
| title_fullStr | Misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis: a case report |
| title_full_unstemmed | Misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis: a case report |
| title_short | Misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis: a case report |
| title_sort | misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis a case report |
| topic | Cutaneous leishmaniasis Diagnosis Travel Treatment PCR Case report |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40794-022-00175-5 |
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