OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to develop diagnostic and therapeutic guidelines for the management of CL in Turkey.
METHODS: This guideline is a consensus text prepared by 18 experienced CL specialists who have been working for many years in areas where the disease is endemic. The Delphi method was used to determine expert group consensus. Initially, a comprehensive list of items about CL was identified, and consensus was built from feedback provided by expert participants from the preceding rounds.
RESULTS: Evidence-based and expert-based recommendations through diagnostic and therapeutic algorithms according to local availability and conditions are outlined.
CONCLUSIONS: Because CL can mimic many other skin diseases, early diagnosis and early treatment are very important to prevent complications and spread of the disease. The fastest and easiest diagnostic method is the leishmanial smear. The most common treatment is the use of local or systemic pentavalent antimony compounds.