American cutaneous leishmaniasis triggered by electrocoagulation

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Martins, Sofia Sales
Publication Date: 2018
Other Authors: Santos, Adriana de Oliveira, Lima, Beatriz Dolabela, Gomes, Ciro Martins, Sampaio, Raimunda Nonata Ribeiro
Format: Article
Language: eng
Source: Repositório Institucional da UnB
Download full: http://repositorio.unb.br/handle/10482/33314
https://dx.doi.org/10.1590/0037-8682-0306-2017
Summary: Cutaneous leishmaniasis is usually transmitted by infected phlebotomine sand fly bites that initiate local cutaneous lesions. Few reports in the literature describe other modes of transmission. We report a case of a previously healthy 59-year-old woman who underwent electrocoagulation to remove seborrheic keratosis confirmed by dermatoscopy. Three months later, a skin fragment tested positive for Leishmania culture; the parasite was identified as L. (V.) braziliensis. Trauma may generate inflammatory cascades that favor Leishmania growth and lesion formation in previously infected patients. American cutaneous leishmaniasis is a dynamic disease with unclear pathophysiology because of continually changing environments, demographics, and human behaviors.