Tropical dermatology: Tropical diseases caused by protozoa - 08/08/11
Abstract |
Protozoan infections are very common among tropical countries and have an important impact on public health. Leishmaniasis is the most widely disseminated protozoan infection in the world, while the trypanosomiases are widespread in both Africa and South America. Amebiasis, a less common protozoal infection, is a cause of significant morbidity in some regions. Toxoplasmosis and pneumocystosis (formerly thought to be caused by a protozoan) are worldwide parasitic infections with a very high incidence in immunocompromised patients but are not restricted to them. In the past, most protozoan infections were restricted to specific geographic areas and natural reservoirs. There are cases in which people from other regions may have come in contact with these pathogens. A common situation involves an accidental contamination of a traveler, tourist, soldier, or worker that has contact with a reservoir that contains the infection. Protozoan infections can be transmitted by arthropods, such as sandflies in the case of leishmaniasis or bugs in the case of trypanosomiases. Vertebrates also serve as vectors as in the case of toxoplasmosis and its transmission by domestic cats. The recognition of the clinical symptoms and the dermatologic findings of these diseases, and a knowledge of the geographic distribution of the pathogen, can be critical in making the diagnosis of a protozoan infection.
Learning objectives |
After completing this learning activity, participants should be able to recognize the significance of protozoan infections worldwide, identify the dermatologic manifestations of protozoan infections, and select the best treatment for the patient with a protozoan infection.
Le texte complet de cet article est disponible en PDF.Key words : amebiasis, Chagas disease, leishmaniasis, pneumocystosis, protozoa, toxoplasmosis, trypanosomiasis
Abbreviations : CA, CDC, CL, CNS, CSF, DCL, ELISA, IFN-γ, MCL, PCP, PCR, TNF-⍺, TORCH, VL, WHO
Plan
Funding sources: None. |
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Conflicts of interest: The authors, editors, and peer reviewers have no relevant financial relationships. |
Vol 60 - N° 6
P. 897-925 - juin 2009 Retour au numéroBienvenue sur EM-consulte, la référence des professionnels de santé.
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