Britannica AI Icon

mucocutaneous leishmaniasis

pathology
Also known as: espundia

Quick Summary

Mucocutaneous leishmaniasis is a form of leishmaniasis, a parasitic infection spread by sand flies. It is characterized by lesions that can affect the skin, and in the mucocutaneous form, the mucous membranes of the face, including the lips, throat, palate, and larynx. These lesions can cause significant destruction.123

The disease is caused by various species of the protozoan parasite Leishmania. While cutaneous leishmaniasis typically results in skin lesions that may scar, mucocutaneous leishmaniasis can develop years after an initial skin infection has healed. Treatment for leishmaniasis involves antimicrobial or antifungal drugs, as well as antimony compounds.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.