Cutaneous leishmaniasis in Afghani refugees

Four Afghani refugees with cutaneous leishmaniasis presented to the dermatology clinic at the Women's and Children's Hospital in Adelaide. Three of the patients had biopsy-proven cutaneous leishmaniasis that was treated initially with topical and then oral ketoconazole, without success. Intralesional sodium stibogluconate was then used for these patients with good results. The fourth patient had several plaques of biopsy-proven cutaneous leishmaniasis, for which cryotherapy was used. This was quite efficacious; however, a small area of recurrence required re-treatment. Leishmaniasis is rarely seen in Australia, but an index of suspicion is warranted when treating persons with typical clinical features who are from endemic regions.