Disseminated Cutaneous Leishmaniasis and Alcohol Misuse, Northeast Brazil, 2015-2018

Emerg Infect Dis. 2021;27(9):2462-2465. doi: 10.3201/eid2709.203714.

Abstract

Disseminated cutaneous leishmaniasis (DCL) is an uncommon form of Leishmania braziliensis infection. It remains unknown why some people develop this clinical condition. We describe 14 DCL patients in Northeast Brazil during 2015-2018. These patients regularly drank large amounts of alcohol, possibly increasing their risk for DCL.

Keywords: Brazil; Leishmania braziliensis; alcohol; alcohol dependence; alcohol use disorder; disseminated cutaneous leishmaniasis; leishmaniases; leishmaniasis; parasites; parasitic zoonoses; vector-borne infections; zoonoses.

MeSH terms

  • Alcoholism*
  • Brazil / epidemiology
  • Ethanol
  • Humans
  • Leishmania braziliensis*
  • Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous* / diagnosis
  • Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous* / epidemiology

Substances

  • Ethanol