Isolated leishmaniasis at lower lip

Abstract

Leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania spp. is a vector-borne disease and transmitted by the Phlebotomus sand fly. Lip is an extremely rare site for this lesion. The lesion often begins as erythematous papules, and slowly enlarges and ulcerates. The diagnosis is usually based on clinical features and laboratory tests. Here, we reported a case of an isolated lesion of the leishmaniasis at the lower lip. The patient presented with an ulcerative lesion and initially not healed by conservative treatment such as antibiotics. Histopathological and smear examination confirmed the diagnosis. The isolated lesion of leishmaniasis at the lower lip is rare and often confusing, which challenges diagnosis. Clinicians should keep in mind about this isolated localised lesion as a differential diagnosis of chronic pathology of the lower lip so that delayed diagnosis and treatment can be avoided.

Keywords

• leishmaniasis
• lower lip
• mucocutaneous leishmaniasis
• zoonotic disease