Treatment Response of Intralesional Pentavalent Antimonials in Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Children

Abstract

Background: Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a parasitic infection transmitted by the bites of infected sand flies, which can lead to skin ulcers and other clinical manifestations. The disease is prevalent in many parts of the world, particularly in developing countries, and affects children disproportionately. Pentavalent antimonials are one of the main treatments for cutaneous leishmaniasis. However, intralesional pentavalent antimonials can be an effective treatment for cutaneous leishmaniasis, in terms of effectiveness and safety. Objective: To determine the effectiveness of intralesional pentavalent antimonials in cutaneous leishmaniasis in children at a tertiary care Hospital. Study Design: descriptive cross-sectional study. Settings: Pediatric department of AJK Medical College, Muzaffarabad Pakistan. Duration: A period of one year from January 2021 to December 2021. Methods: All the children aged 2 to 14 years old diagnosed with cutaneous leishmaniasis undergoing Intralesional administration of pentavalent antimonials (sodium stibogluconate or meglumine antimoniate) for the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis were included. Pentavalent antimonials are administered intralesionally once a week for up to 4-6 weeks. 0.5 to 1ml injection was given directly into the lesion using a sterile syringe and needle. Participants are followed up at specific intervals to assess the treatment response. The treatment response is evaluated by comparing the baseline lesion size and characteristics with those at the follow-up assessments. Complete healing is defined as complete resolution of the lesion, partial healing is defined as a reduction in the lesion size by at least 50%, and no healing is defined as no reduction in the lesion size. All the information was collected via study proforma and SPSS version 26 was used for the purpose of analysis. Results: A total of 64 cases were studied, their mean age was 6.71±3.87 years, males were 62.5% and females were 37.5%. Out of all 53.10% cases were successfully treated, in 12.50% cases treatment response not found, while 34.40% cases lost the follow-up. Treatment response was statistically insignificant according to age (p=0.097), while it was statistically significant according to gender (p= 0.001). Conclusion: Intralesional pentavalent antimonials have been observed to be an effective treatment for cutaneous leishmaniasis in children.