Leishmaniasis Disease

 Written by: Abdul Mutalib Jawd

Leishmaniasis is a parasitic skin disease which causes by the bite of sandflies. Cases of this disease are more common in tropical and subtropical regions.

AEPO’s writer/producer has talked to some people suffering from leishmaniosis disease and a physician about this disease.

A girl from Kabul city says, “A mosquito bit my face, which turned into a red rash and gradually grew bigger. When I went to the doctor, he opened the rash and diagnosed it as leishmaniasis. It took a year to heal, but the stain remained on my face."

Baktash, another resident of Kabul city says, “I am suffering leishmaniasis parasite on my face. In the beginning, it was a small rash and had no pain or irritation but later it enlarged.”

Doctor Bashir Ahmad Ahmadi, chief of the control of leishmaniasis at the leishmaniasis control center in Kabul city talks about this disease, “Leishmaniasis has no symptoms, and does not have any burning or itching.

Leishmaniasis is a disease that is transmitted by mosquitoes. It occurs on bare parts of the body, such as the face, nose, ears, and eyelids, and stains are formed on the affected part of the body which will never recover and destroys the beauty of the face. If not treated on time, it can reach the bone of the patient.”

What do some people think about the causes of leishmaniasis disease?

Nangyalai, a resident of Kabul city says, “I am a waiter in a hotel and I deliver food to customers. There is standing water and garbage on my way and I think mosquitoe had bitten me.”

A woman from Ghazni province says: "My two children are suffering from leishmaniasis parasite. The windows in our room have no screen to prevent mosquitoes and mosquitoes have bitten them."

 Doctor Ahmadi says, “Leishmania is a parasitic disease transmitted by mosquitoes. A mosquito transmits to a healthy person. These events happen more often in the summer season, but it takes at least one to three months to show its first symptoms. Annual mosquitoes are more often found in dump and polluted places.”

How do some patients treat leishmaniasis disease?

Nangyalai says, “I was suffering from cutaneous leishmaniasis on my face. I put blue copper powder on the wound about five or six times. It was burning but it healed my leishmaniasis disease but its stain enlarged and remained.”

A girl says, “I was suffering from leishmaniasis disease on my arm. I mix the grounded garlic and salt and put on my wound; the wound of leishmaniasis was healed over a night.”

Doctor Ahmadi says, “Leishmaniasis disease doesn’t have home treatment. It enlarges the wound. The patients must go to the center of Leishmania for essential treatment.”