title: Nasal polyps: a predisposing factor for cutaneous leishmaniasis of the lips?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) of the lips is rare. This study was conducted to investigate findings in patients with this condition.
  
  
  METHODS
  From 2007 to date, we observed 10 patients (nine males and one female), with a median age of 45.2 years (range: 8-77 years), with CL of the lips.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six of the 10 patients suffered from nasal polyps, three from bronchial asthma, and one from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Three of the patients with nasal polyps also had asthma. Three patients had none of nasal polyps, asthma, or COPD. In all patients with nasal polyps, diagnosis was confirmed by anterior rhinoscopy and nasal endoscopy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is possible that, in patients with nasal polyps, asthma, and COPD, the need to breathe through the mouth rather than the nose facilitates the sting by sandflies. Subjects with nasal polyps living in areas endemic for CL should be warned about the risk for being stung by sandflies on the lips, in addition to other uncovered areas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) (Italian Research Hospital Foundation), Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Veraldi
authors.affiliation: Ear, Nose and Throat Department, San Giuseppe Hospital, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: D'Agostino
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) (Italian Research Hospital Foundation), Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pontini
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) (Italian Research Hospital Foundation), Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Guanziroli
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Basildon and Thurrock University Hospital National Health Service Foundation Trust, Basildon, UK.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gatt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications; D002648:Child; D005148:Facial Dermatoses / Q000469:parasitology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000150:complications*; D008046:Lip; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009058:Mouth Breathing / Q000150:complications*; D009298:Nasal Polyps / Q000150:complications*; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000150:complications; D055815:Young Adult