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Case Reports
. 2022 Feb 22;14(2):e22492.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.22492. eCollection 2022 Feb.

Impetigo Leishmaniasis Previously Diagnosed as Crusty Impetigo: A Case Study

José Suarez  1   2 , Margarita Rios  1 , Dora Estripeaut  3   2 , Adelys Reina  4
Affiliations
Case Reports

Impetigo Leishmaniasis Previously Diagnosed as Crusty Impetigo: A Case Study

José Suarez et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a zoonotic disease caused by several species of protozoa of the genus Leishmania. Cutaneous leishmaniasis classically presents as an ulcer with heaped edges, but it can also appear as nodular, scabbed, or plaque-like lesions. Its diagnosis requires confirmatory laboratory tests such as a smear, culture, and polymerase chain reaction. However, atypical presentations represent a diagnostic challenge in Tropical Medicine. For instance, localized cutaneous leishmaniasis (LCL) resembles bacterial and fungal tropical dermatological infections. Atypical presentations require an experienced clinician, epidemiological knowledge, and proper diagnostic tests. We present a case of a 10-year-old male who showed classic impetigo-like symptoms, which did not improve with topical or systemic antibiotic therapy. After a thorough case review, the patient was diagnosed with LCL. Therefore, epidemiological and clinical evaluation is crucial when diagnosing, especially in patients who live or have travelled to leishmaniasis-endemic areas.

Keywords: atypical presentation; cutaneous leishmaniasis; impetigo; leishmania panamensis; panama.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. A-C. Initial presentation of cutaneous lesions diagnosed as impetigo with no improvement after systemic and topical antibacterial therapy.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Apposition smear, Giemsa stain, 100×.
Figure 3
Figure 3. D-F. Improvement of cutaneous lesions after treatment with pentavalent antimonial (Glucantime ©).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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