Review on Leishmaniasis: A Neglected Global Disease

Abstract

As per World Health Organization, Leishmaniasis is a neglected, tropical disease. It is initiated by intracellular transmission of a parasite to humans, by sand fly bite. Factors like population variability, climate change etc. lead to the expansion of this disease. This article provides review of epidemiology and management of leishmaniasis i.e., cutaneous, mucosal, and visceral. Literature was studied by systematic exploration in PubMed including various articles from 2012-2022 without setting any exclusion criteria. There have been reports of development of strains, resistant to traditional therapy of leishmaniasi, along with simultaneous infections like HIV/Leishmania spp., and other targeted pharmaceutical resources i.e., amphotericin B and formulations, miltefosine, pentavalent antimonials. Since long, only few drugs are available for the management of the disease, having adverse effects and toxicity due to which the treatment control program is put in check globally. New strategies are required to manage this neglected disease adequately.