Misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis: a case report

BACKGROUND: Leishmaniasis is a widespread disease in tropical and subtropical countries, except for Australia and Oceania. In Poland, tourists, migrants and travellers from leishmaniasis-endemic countries may carry Leishmania. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a case of undiagnosed cutaneous leishmaniasis in a patient who received many weeks of inadequate antibiotic treatment. Ulceration in the right submandibular region was thought to be a purulent complication after laser surgery. Six weeks before the ulcer developed, the patient had visited the jungle (Guatemala). Cutaneous leishmaniasis was finally diagnosed after nine months based on a proper history and a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. Treatment with antimony derivatives was administered. After three months, the ulcer healed but left a scar. CONCLUSION: A lack of knowledge about tropical diseases among doctors and an incomplete medical history were the reasons for many weeks of erroneous treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis with antibiotics. This is the first reported case of cutaneous leishmaniasis misdiagnosed as a complication after an aesthetic medical procedure.