Oral leishmaniasis: A scoping review

Abstract

Introduction: Leishmaniasis is a sandfly-borne infection caused by the Leishmania parasite, produces localized and diffuse cutaneous manifestations, it can also manifest intra- and extraoral. Objective: To analyze the literature on Leishmaniasis, particularly its diagnosis, epidemiology, treatment and manifestations. Methodology: Articles on the subject published in PubMed and Google Scholar databases were analyzed, with emphasis on the last 5 years. The search was performed using Boolean logical operators "AND, OR and NOT." It was conducted using the words, "Leishmaniasis", "diagnosis", "epidemiology", "treatment", "systemic manifestations", "oral manifestations". Results: The gold standard test for diagnosing Leishmaniasis is Giemsa-stained tissue smear microscopy, although culture on invasive specimens, loop-mediated isothermal amplification technique, and PCR are also used. This neglected tropical disease is a significant global health concern, affecting 98 countries and territories across four continents with an estimated 1 to 2 million new cases and 70,000 deaths annually. Treatment options are limited, with pentavalent antimony as the primary drug and additional agents like miltefosine, amphotericin B, paromomycin, and pentamidine available. Cutaneous manifestations vary widely, ranging from simple nodules and skin discoloration to extensive, ulcerated, and papulonodular lesions often involving the oral mucosa. Conclusions: Leishmaniasis is a systemic parasitic disease significantly impacting oral health. Oral manifestations include nodules, discoloration, plaques, ulcers, and papulonodular lesions, potentially affecting mastication, swallowing, and speech.