Cutaneous leishmaniasis: an enigma of rare clinical presentations

Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by leishmania parasite. It is divided into two groups: old world species like L. major, L. infantum, and L. tropica and new world species such as L. amazonensis, L. mexicana, L. panamensis, L. braziliensis, and L. guyanensis. In India, cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) cases are mostly seen in Rajasthan, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir with few isolated reports from south India as well. J and K over the past few years has emerged as a hot spot of CL. Although majority of the cases show classical presentation, atypical presentations mimicking various dermatoses are witnessed. As a clinician, we need to have a high index of suspicion to confirm the diagnoses. Moreover, in an endemic area, it is imperative for the physician to be well acquainted that any atypical lesion, especially chronic form, should be investigated for CL.