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| | CASE REPORT | | | | | Year : 1996 | Volume : 62 | Issue : 1 | Page : 40 | Cutaneous leishmaniasis in Assam
BR Baishya, NK Hazarika
,
Correspondence Address:
B R Baishya
PMID: 20947966 A case of cutaneous leishmaniasis is being reported from Assam, a North Eastern state of India. Clinical feature and direct smear examination of the case confirmed the diagnosis. Dramatic resolution of the lesions with sodium antimony gluconate during 10 days of therapy was achieved.
Keywords: Cutaneous leishmaniasis, Sodium antimony gluconate
How to cite this article:
Baishya B R, Hazarika N K. Cutaneous leishmaniasis in Assam. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol 1996;62:40 |
| Introduction | |  |
Cutaneous leishmaniasis, also known as oriental sore or Delhi boil, is a specific cutaneous granuloma caused by Leishmania tropica. The lesions are commonly seen on the exposed parts of the body. Kubba et al1 viewed that cutaneous leishmaniasis is nonexistent in Assam and North East part of India. This report indicates possibility of cutaneous leishmaniasis in hot, humid climate like Assam.
| Case Report | | |
A 66-year-old man from a village of Assam developed a solitary nodule on the dorsum of the right hand above the third metacarpophalangeal joint. The lesion was progressive in nature and became a plaque with ulceration. The lesion was annular, 5 cm in diameter, infiltrated and had erythematous border. A similar small ulcer of 1 cm diameter developed on the dorsum of left little finger [Figure - 1].
Direct smear from the edge of the ulcer, stained with Leishman stain revealed LD bodies. On histopathological examination, the tissue section from the edge of the ulcer showed granuloma.
A diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis was made and the patient was put on sodium antimony gluconate 500 mg injection daily intramuscularly. The lesions showed resolution within a period of ten days. After twelve injections the lesions healed [Figure - 2]. Two intralesional injections were also given in the edge of the plaque and faster resolution was seen.
| Discussion | | |
Case of cutaneous leishmaniasis is very rare in this part of the country. We did not notice any side effect of sodium antimony gluconate during twelve days of treatment. This report indicates need of an epidemiological study in the locality of the patient (located near the neighbouring state Arunachal Pradesh) to find out any case of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Assam or neighbouring state.
| Acknowledgement | | |
Sincere thanks to Albert David Ltd for making sodium antimony gluconate available in Guwahati, Assam[1].
| References | | |
| 1. | Kubba R. Dermal leishmaniasis. In: Behl P N, ed. Practice of dermatology. 5th edn. Calcutta: Allied Book Agency, 1982:218.  |
Figures [Figure - 1], [Figure - 2] |
