{Reference Type}: Case Reports
{Title}: A Case of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis with Mucosal Involvement in the Northern United States.
{Author}: Graziano T;Ferdock AJ;Rossi CM;Schultz KL;
{Journal}: J Emerg Med
{Volume}: 66
{Issue}: 6
{Year}: 2024 Jun 26
{Factor}: 1.473
{DOI}: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2024.01.015
{Abstract}: BACKGROUND: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a vector-borne parasitic infection endemic to many sub-tropical regions worldwide. In the Americas, Leishmania braziliensis is responsible for most reported CL cases. Variable symptom presentation and susceptibility to secondary infection make diagnosing CL a difficult proposition for physicians who may not encounter cases frequently.
METHODS: We present the case of a 50-year-old man with multiple progressive lesions, diagnosed initially as a bacterial infection, who presented to a North American emergency department after several unsuccessful trials of antibiotic therapy. Eventually, polymerase chain reaction testing of a wound biopsy sample confirmed the presence of L. braziliensis. After a complicated course, the patient's infection resolved after tailored antiparasitic therapy. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: This case highlights the need to include travel history in the evaluation of atypical dermatologic infections.