Table of contents:
- Leishmaniasis, a deadly infectious disease in tropical countries
- 1. Visceral leishmaniation
- 2. Cutaneous leishmaniasis
- 3. Mucocutaneous leishmaniasis
- What causes leishmaniasis?
- How to treat leishmaniasis?
Have you ever heard of leishmaniasis? This infectious disease, which has another name, kala azar, is most common in Asia, Africa and the United States. Even according to Doctor Without Borders, kala azar is the second deadliest disease after malaria that occurs in tropical countries, such as Indonesia. Actually, what is Leishmaniasis disease? What is the cause of this disease which is also called kala azar?
Leishmaniasis, a deadly infectious disease in tropical countries
Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease caused by parasites Leishmania . These parasites usually breed in phlebotomus flies (gnats), small insects found in waters such as the banks of the sea and rivers.
You can catch this disease if you are bitten by a fly that is infected with the parasite Leishmania. Apart from being abundant in areas with subtropical and tropical climates, kala azar disease also tends to be found in remote areas.
In fact, there are 3 types of leishmaniasis when viewed from the parasite and the location of its spread, namely:
1. Visceral leishmaniation
This type is very dangerous if not treated immediately. It is usually characterized by high fever, drastic weight loss, enlarged spleen and liver, and anemia.
2. Cutaneous leishmaniasis
The type that most often appears and causes sores on the skin such as boils on parts of the body that are easily visible. These sores leave scars, causing serious skin blemishes.
3. Mucocutaneous leishmaniasis
Meanwhile, mucocutaneous leishmaniasis is the disease that appears less frequently among others. This infectious disease can cause damage to the mucous membranes found in the nose, mouth and throat.
What causes leishmaniasis?
Leishmaniasis is a disease caused by protozoan parasites, which belong to the genus Leishmania and are generally transmitted by the bite of an aquatic insect known as a gnat, or phlebotomus fly.
Protozoa are organisms that can live freely or parasitically in nature. These organisms can multiply in the human body, which can lead to serious infections.
These protozoa may also be transmitted through food. However, it is most likely that this disease is spread through the bite of a fly that has contracted the virus. This is because more than 90 species of gnats are known to transmit parasites Leishmania , which is the cause of Leishmaniasis.
This parasite lives and multiplies in female gnats. Meanwhile, these insects are most active in humid environments, such as during the summer or at night.
The spread of disease can come from animals, then infect gnats, then attack humans. Animals such as dogs can be intermediaries for parasites Leishmania this.
But you can also get it from among humans through blood transfusions or use of needles. In fact, in some countries, transmission can occur from humans and then infect gnats, then infect other humans.
How to treat leishmaniasis?
The way to treat leishmaniasis varies, depending on the type of leishmaniasis that you have contracted with. In addition, treatment is also carried out based on the parasite species that causes Leishmaniasis, as well as the geographical location where you live.
This disease can be cured, but requires an immunocompetence system because if you use drugs alone, parasites that live in the patient's body will not disappear. So, the possibility of relapse can occur.
Visceral leishmaniasis always requires care and medication. The diagnosis of this disease is carried out by carrying out several medical tests such as parasitological and serological tests, so that the cause of Leishmaniasis can also be determined.
Treating the visceral type of lesihmaniasis or also known as kala-azar can be done with treatment using sodium stibogluconate (Pentostam), amphotericin B, paromomycin, and miltefosine (Impavido).
Meanwhile, to treat cutaneous type leishmaniasis it is not always necessary. This is because in some cases, treatment can speed up healing, reduce scarring, and reduce the risk of more serious diseases.
Treating mucocutaneous type leishmaniasis should be done, because this disease is not easy to cure, so it requires treatment. Treatment using liposomal amphotericin B and paromomycin can be used for the healing process of this disease.
