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Evaluation of Pediatric Patients Diagnosed with Cutaneous Leishmaniasis: A Single-Center Experience
Melis Deniz1,2, İsa An3, Kerim Parlak4
1Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Sanlıurfa Training and Research Hospital, Sanlıurfa 63250, Turkey.
Insights
Pediatric cutaneous leishmaniasis presents with plaque or ulcerative lesions, often on the face and neck. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial for preventing lasting skin damage and cosmetic concerns in children.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Infectious Diseases
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease with diverse clinical presentations.
- Pediatric leishmaniasis requires specific clinical consideration due to unique manifestations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the clinical features of pediatric leishmaniasis.
- To evaluate treatment outcomes in children diagnosed with leishmaniasis.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective study of pediatric patients (1 month-18 years) diagnosed with leishmaniasis.
- Data collected from electronic medical records at Şanlıurfa Training and Research Hospital (Jan 2022-Jan 2024).
Main Results:
- Fifty pediatric patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis were analyzed.
- Common lesions included plaques (68%) and ulcerative lesions (16%), predominantly on the face and neck (68%).
- A higher number of prior antibiotic treatments was observed in patients with multiple lesions (p=0.022).
Conclusions:
- Cutaneous leishmaniasis should be suspected in children presenting with plaque or ulcerative lesions, especially with a travel history to endemic regions.
- Prompt detection and treatment are vital to mitigate long-term sequelae, including cosmetic disfigurement.
- Effective management improves overall patient outcomes in pediatric leishmaniasis cases.
Objective:
We aimed to describe the clinical features and treatment outcomes of pediatric patients with leishmaniasis.
Methods:
This retrospective study included pediatric patients (>1 month-18 years) diagnosed with leishmaniasis at Şanlıurfa Training and Research Hospital between January 2022 and January 2024, identified from electronic medical records.
Results:
Among patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis, fifty pediatric patients were evaluated. Plaques (n = 34, 68%) and ulcerative lesions (n = 8, 16%) were the most common lesion types, with the face and neck being the most frequently affected sites (n = 34, 68%). The number of previously used antibiotics was statistically significantly higher in the multiple-lesion group compared to the single-lesion group (p = 0.022).
Conclusions:
Clinicians should consider cutaneous leishmaniasis in children with plaque or ulcerative skin lesions and a history of travel to an endemic area. Early detection and timely treatment can prevent long-term damage and cosmetic issues, leading to improved patient outcomes.
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