Treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis

The World Health Organization estimates that approximately 400,000 new cases of leishmaniasis occur worldwide each year. Cutaneous leishmaniasis is being encountered more frequently in the United States because of increasing travel and immigration from endemic areas. The indications for treatment and recommended treatment regimens reported in the infectious disease and dermatology literature vary widely. We examine both classic and newly developed therapeutic agents and modalities for cutaneous leishmaniasis. Proper therapy depends on species identification. New World leishmaniasis, in general, requires more aggressive therapy; parenteral antimonials are the drugs of choice. Physical modalities may suffice in most cases of Old World leishmaniasis because of its strong tendency toward spontaneous resolution.