[Leishmaniasis : Diagnosis and therapy]

The delayed appearance of a papule after returning from travelling hints towards the diagnosis cutaneous leishmaniasis. Histologically, a granulomatous inflammatory response is seen, and using Giemsa staining, intracellular parasites can be visualized within histiocytes. Polymer chain reaction (PCR) from the tissue or subsequent cultures not only aids in excluding other differential diagnoses, but also in the identification of the causing Leishmania subspecies. The latter is important for the choice of the optimal therapeutic regimen.