Leishmaniasis : What Is It ? Prevention and Control, Treatment and Laboratory Management and Advice For Patient

Leishmaniasis : What Is It ? Prevention and Control, Treatment and Laboratory Management and Advice For Patient

Leishmaniasis is a term used to describe a number of closely related diseases caused by several distinct species, subspecies and strains of leishmania parasites. The disease occurs in three main clinical forms.

o Cutaneous
o Mucocutaneous
o Visceral

Phlebotomine sandflies are the vectors. The epidemiology of leishmaniasis is complex, involving not only different parasite species but also strains of parasites. Most types of leishmaniasis are zoonotic. The degree of human involvement varies greatly from area to area.

The epidemiology of this disease is largely determined by:

o The species of sandflies, their ecology and behavior;
o The availability of a wide range of hosts
o The species and strains of leishmania parasites.

a) Cutaneous Leishmaniasis

Known under a variety of common names, (e.g.oriental sore in old world), uta or chiclero ulcer in new world.

It is caused by leishmania major, leishmania tropica and leishmania aethiopica in Ethiopia.

It is characterized by typical ulcer that starts as a nodule at the site of bite, and then a crust develops in the middle followed by ulcer.

b) Diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis

It is usually caused by leishmania aethiopica in Ethiopia. It causes widespread cutaneous nodules or macules on the body

Prevention and control of leishmaniasis

1. Case treatment

Simple cutaneous leishmaniasis usually heals without treatment and renders the person immune to other infections with the same parasite species.

2. Personal protection

Individuals can prevent infection by avoiding being bitten by sandflies. It is recommended that personal protection measures be taken, such as repellents, fine mesh screens, insecticide treated clothing and/ or insecticide-treated bednets are used.

3. Application of insecticides

- Spraying the interior surfaces of houses with residual insecticides, such as DDT, Malathion, propoxur, etc.

- If outdoor resting sites are known they can be sprayed with residual insecticides.

4. Application of basic sanitation

This is aimed at abolishing the breeding sites around human habitation, such as proper disposal of refuse and rubbish heaps; filling of cracks and holes in the soils and walls.

5. Control of Animal Reservoir

In Ethiopia, control measures were carried out against the rock hyrax, a wild animal reservoir of leishmaniasis, where by reduction of the prevalence of leishmaniasis has occurred. Similarly control measures can be taken against foxes and dogs.

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Leishmaniasis : What Is It ? Prevention and Control, Treatment and Laboratory Management and Advice For Patient 2018-12-26T19:52:00-08:00 Rating: 4.5 Diposkan Oleh: David Maharoni