[Cutaneous leishmaniasis of the ear muscle. A case report]

Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a parasitic infection which is especially endemic in the southern parts of Europe, in several regions of Africa, and in South and Central America. Whether treatment is necessary or not depends on the virulence of the germ, the infection's localization, and the host's immunological reaction. Because of the high rate of recidivation and the large number of undesirable side-effects of systemic chemotherapy of localized cutaneous leishmaniasis, several methods of local therapy have been tested. This case report demonstrates one of several approaches to the local treatment of this disease. Despite progress in this field, cutaneous leishmaniasis will continue to be a considerable medical and sociopolitical problem, because successful treatments in under-developed countries must be highly efficient, cost little, be easy to administer, and have a low rate of undesirable side-effects.