What is leishmaniasis?
Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease transmitted by a small sandfly. It is one of the 20 neglected tropical diseases. The most common form, cutaneous leishmaniasis, causes chronic sores and deformities. Those with a weakened immune system are at an increased risk of developing the disease. Most sufferers are people living in poverty.
In the programme countries we fight against the most common form, cutaneous leishmaniasis. The symptoms are similar to those for leprosy. As a result, infected persons are often the subject of discrimination and exclusion.
Symptoms of cutaneous leishmaniasis are:
- chronic sores at the site of the bite
- scars
- less flexible joints
Leishmaniasis in figures
2 diagnoses
every minute
17 million
people infected worldwide
30 000
deaths a year
85 %
chance of a cure if treated
Treatment
The most common treatment takes 20 days. This involves injecting the drug into the patient’s veins, which kills the parasite. Unfortunately, these injections are extremely painful, causing a large proportion of patients to stop treatment early.
The common treatment for leishmaniasis is unsuitable for vulnerable groups, such as children or pregnant women. Therefore, Damien Foundation teams in Latin America are using a new, revolutionary treatment against the disease. In heat therapy (thermotherapy), leishmaniasis ulcers are treated once with warm electrodes, which kills the parasites. This heat therapy is virtually painless and suitable for the entire population.
This is where we are fighting the disease
Where does the Leishmania parasite live?
Leishmaniasis is caused by a parasite called Leishmania. This small, unwelcome guest exists in more than 20 forms and is found in the blood of ducks, small mammals such as rodents and even dogs for example.
But how is the disease transmitted to humans? The culprit is a small sandfly that bites both animals and people and thereby transmits the parasite. Only a small proportion of people bitten by the sandfly go on to develop the disease. The others become carriers of the disease, with the result that the sandfly now has another place from where to transmit it.
What forms of leishmaniasis are there?
There are 3 forms of leishmaniasis:
Cutaneous leishmaniasis
This is the most common form of leishmaniasis. Cutaneous leishmaniasis causes chronic sores and is reminiscent of leprosy. These sores can result in permanent scars that cause serious disabilities. Damien Foundation targets its projects at cutaneous leishmaniasis because the symptoms are similar to those of leprosy.
Mucocutaneous leishmaniasis
This form attacks the mucosa in the nose and throat and can result in serious damage to the nose or throat. Mucocutaneous leishmaniasis often has its origins in untreated, or poorly treated, cutaneous leishmaniasis.
Visceral leishmaniasis
Often known as ‘kala-azar’ in India, meaning “black fever”. Why? After malaria, visceral leishmaniasis is the world’s most deadly parasitic disease. A high fever, weight loss, a swollen spleen and anaemia: patients suffer greatly and in 90% of cases do not survive without the correct treatment.