New aspects on cutaneous leishmaniasis

Cutaneous Leishmaniasis today is still a persistent health problem in most parts of the world even in the nonendemic countries. In the first part of this work the general aspects of the disease are considered such as, the organism, the reservoir, the insect vector and the mode of transmission. Epidemiological data including the author's personal observations follow. The traditional clinical classification is mentioned as well as the "new aspects" of the clinical classification by the author as results from his histological investigation. The main points of this classification could be summarized as follows: a) The histologically characterized as granulomatous phase of this disease corresponds clinically to the papular-nodular ulcerated lesions (Acute Leishmaniasis). b) The histologically microtuberculoid phase corresponds clinically to chronic cutaneous Leishmaniasis. c) The Lupus vulgaris-like histological picture, corresponds clinically to the recidivans or late form of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis. This classification is conventional with several clinical criteria. Furthermore, immunology treatment and control of this disease are discussed.