Cutaneous leishmaniasis in Malian military personnel returning from deployment

Résumé fourni par la source

We report a series of cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis that occurred in an unusual context. Objective: To describe the epidemiological context and confirm the leishmanial aetiology of the skin lesions observed in military personnel returning from deployment. Methodology: We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study at the Bamako Armed Forces Medical and Surgical Centre among military personnel returning from deployment to the North of Mali, particularly in the area of Boulkessi. Routine physical examination revealed characteristic skin lesions suggestive of cutaneous leishmaniasis at various anatomical sites. Results: Our study focused on 30 military personnel presenting with leishmanial lesions within a cohort of 160 all-male military personnel. The hospital admission rate for leishmaniasis was 18.7%. The 20–29 age group was over-represented (57%). According to the hierarchical classification, enlisted men accounted for 66.67% of the cases of leishmanial lesions, followed by non-commissioned officers (30%) and officers (3.33%). The clinical presentations observed were ulcerocrusted (36.7%) and papulonodular (26.6%). Lesions were located on exposed areas in 86.66% of cases and on covered areas in 6.67%. The cure rate was 100%. Conclusion: This outbreak, which occurred unexpectedly among military personnel on deployment, gives cause for concern. In fact, the mapping of leishmaniasis sites does not appear to be well defined, and the risk of similar lesions occurring in other groups warrants proactive preventive measures.

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