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Article: Leishmaniasis: early diagnosis is key: a patient presents with nasal congestion, a history of nosebleed, and painful lesions on his body and in his mouth. What questions should you ask to ensure that you make an accurate diagnosis?(Disease/Disorder overview)(Cover story)
- Article from:
- JAAPA-Journal of the American Academy of Physicians Assistants
- Article date:
- July 1, 2005
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2005 Haymarket Media, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Leishmaniasis is a complex disease distinguished by a variable set of clinical signs and symptoms. It can manifest in a self-limited, cutaneous form or as a life-threatening systemic infection. Historically difficult and painful to treat, this zoonotic infection is caused by a protozoan parasite of the Leishmania species. It is transmitted from the vertebrate reservoir to humans by way of sand flies--insects of the genera Phlebotomus and Lutzomyia (see Figure 1, page 48). Sand flies are 2 mm long and recognizable by their hopping movement and wing position--a nearly erect V-configuration over the body--and breed in feces and areas where there is organic waste. (1,2)
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