Leishmaniasis needs more attention

LEISHMANIASIS
needs more attention
eishmaniasis ranks on the
World Health Organization’s
(WHO) list of neglected
tropical diseases along with
the usual suspects, such as
dengue, chikungunya and rabies.
But there’s a strong likelihood that
it’s a disease you have never heard of.
What’s even more surprising is that
thousands of people in 89 countries
across all continents, except Antarctica,
32
die from the disease every year, while
an estimated 1.5 million to 2 million
are infected annually. Another 1 billion
people are at high risk of infection.
Like malaria, leishmaniasis is caused
by parasites that are carried by an
insect – in this case, a female sandfly
(pictured). The parasites are of the
Leishmania type. After malaria, it ranks
as the second most deadly protozoan
disease in humans. But, unlike
mosquitoes that give just one form of
malaria, the sandfly can give four forms
of leishmaniasis, ranging from lesions
on the skin to infection of internal
organs. Lesions can lead to disability,
disfiguring scars – and stigma. The
other infections can be lethal if left
untreated.
Leishmaniasis was first identified
in the 1900s. Since then, significant
progress has been made in its
PHOTOGRAPH: WIKIPEDIA
DR RAMONA HURDAYAL, RAPHAEL TAIWO ARULEBA

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