Page 101 - Portuguese Journal - SPORL - Vol 61. Nº1

Nasal mucocutaneous leishmaniasis

– An unusual form of presentation

Clinical Case

Authors Abstract

Leishmaniasis is caused by the protozoan parasite
Isa Elói Leishmania which is transmitted through bites
Serviço de Otorrinolaringologia, Centro Hospitalar of infected female phlebotomine sandflies.
e Universitário de Coimbra, Portugal
There are 3 main forms – visceral, cutaneous and
Nuno Dias Silva mucocutaneous, with mucosal affection being the
Serviço de Otorrinolaringologia, Centro Hospitalar rarest manifestation of the disease. The incidence
e Universitário de Coimbra, Portugal in Portugal is considered hypoendemic.
We present a case of a 48 years old female, with
José Pedro Carneiro
Serviço de Otorrinolaringologia, Centro Hospitalar complaints of nasal obstruction, epistaxis and
e Universitário de Coimbra, Portugal irregular erythematous scaly plaques surrounding
the nostrils. Histology of the nasal septum and skin
Filipa Vaz Carvalho revealed the presence of Leishmania-Donovan
Serviço de Otorrinolaringologia, Centro Hospitalar
e Universitário de Coimbra, Portugal bodies. She was treated with amphotericin-B
and itraconazole with clinical improvement and
João Carlos Ribeiro disappearance of lesions.
Serviço de Otorrinolaringologia, Centro Hospitalar Mucocutaneous leishmaniasis preferably affects
e Universitário de Coimbra, Portugal the nasal mucosa and if not diagnosed and
António Carlos Miguéis treated in time can lead to cartilage destruction
Serviço de Otorrinolaringologia, Centro Hospitalar and dissemination of mucosal lesions to the
e Universitário de Coimbra, Portugal nasopharynx, larynx, compromising the airway
and even leading to disfigurement.
Jorge Eva Miguéis
Serviço de Otorrinolaringologia, Centro Hospitalar Keywords: leishmaniasis; mucocutaneous
e Universitário de Coimbra, Portugal leishmaniasis; nasal leishmaniasis

Introduction
Leishmaniasis is an infectious disease caused
by protozoan parasites belonging to the
Leishmania genus, which is transmitted
through the bite of a female phlebotomine
sandfly belonging to the genera Phlebotomus
and Lutzomyia . Phlebotomus pernicious and
Phlebotomus ariasi are the most important
species in Western Europe. 1,2,3
The number of new cases of leishmaniasis
occurring annually worldwide is estimated
to be approximately 0.7 to 1 million, with
approximately 350 million people at risk. It is
endemic to underdeveloped regions such as
Correspondência: Latin America and the Middle East, but rarer
Isa Elói in European countries. Human leishmaniasis
isaeloi2@gmail.com
is considered hypoendemic in Portugal. 4,5
Article received on August 22, 2022. When leishmaniasis is symptomatic, there
Accepted for publication on November 3, 2022.
are three main forms of clinical manifestation:

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