title: A rare case of diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis in an immunocompetent patient from sub-Himalayan India.
abstract: Diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis (DCL) is a rare variant of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) characterised by multiple (≥10), widespread, slowly progressive, cosmetically disfiguring, non-ulcerating nodules without visceral involvement. The disease is resistant to chemotherapy and characterized by relapses. We present a rare case of a patient with DCL who had extensive lesions (282) and who was HIV negative from a new focus of leishmaniasis in sub-Himalayan India. A favourable response with a regression of the lesions was observed after a month of treatment with intravenous and intralesional sodium stibogluconate with oral pentoxiphyline. Familiarity with such exceptional cases in immunocompetent individuals may facilitate diagnosis and a promising treatment outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: G K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Verma
authors.forename: Santwana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Verma
authors.forename: Vinay
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Shanker
authors.forename: Gagandeep
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Tegta
mesh_terms: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018023:HIV Seronegativity; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D016774:Leishmaniasis, Diffuse Cutaneous / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents