{"id":9299,"date":"2019-08-08T07:33:55","date_gmt":"2019-08-08T07:33:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=9299"},"modified":"2021-04-22T16:01:04","modified_gmt":"2021-04-22T16:01:04","slug":"15-symptoms-of-leishmaniasis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/15-symptoms-of-leishmaniasis\/","title":{"rendered":"15 Symptoms of Leishmaniasis"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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A parasite that can infect sandflies is leishmaniasis. When a person is bitten by a sandfly that has been infected by this parasite they may develop leishmaniasis.  The sand flies that are infected by this parasite typically live in subtropical and tropical environments. There have been fatal epidemics of leishmaniasis in areas of Asia, South America, and East Africa. The regions that are affected are often unstable and remote and have limited resources to treat the disease. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leishmaniasis is considered to be one of the most dangerous tropical diseases. This parasitic disease can affect people differently. Some people will have a silent infection and not have any symptoms or signs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other people have a mild or moderate form of the disease and have few symptoms. Others will have a severe infection. This can cause permanent damage and even become life-threatening. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are 8 symptoms of leishmaniasis to consider. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Ulcers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Some people will carry the leishmaniasis <\/a>parasite for a long time and never get sick. When cutaneous leishmaniasis occurs, a person who has been bitten by a sandfly that was infected may notice ulcers developing on their skin. These ulcers may appear a few weeks after they received the bite. However, in some cases, a person will not have symptoms for months or even years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The skin ulcers are typically quite painless and many people will not think much of them. However, these lesions can get worse with time and the infection can spread. When the infection begins to spread it can become quite dangerous. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have skin ulcers it is important to make sure that you show them to your doctor in order to determine the underlying cause and begin treatment. The sooner that treatment is started, the better the chances of curing the illness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Difficulty Breathing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When skin ulcers are left untreated it can cause a person to develop mucocutaneous leishmaniasis. This occurs as the parasite <\/a>filtrates the body. This can take anywhere from one to five years to occur after the first skin ulcers. A person may develop ulcers in their mouth as a result. They may also appear in the nose and on the lips. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When this occurs, a person may find that breathing becomes more difficult as the ulcers continue to grow. If you have had skin ulcers and notice that there are ulcers forming on the lips and in the mouth, it is important to make sure that you seek medical attention right away. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If these are left untreated it can cause difficulty breathing, which can lead to serious life-threatening complications. Your doctor will be able to diagnose the issue and come up with a treatment plan to help you get you well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Unexplained Weakness<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another symptom of leishmaniasis is being tired and weak. It may feel like you have the flu<\/a>. This flu-like symptom such as achiness, lethargy, and the general feeling of not being well is associated with a number of infections, conditions, and other issues, not just the flu. Typically, a person who is suffering from leishmaniasis will start to feel bad after the skin ulcers begin to appear. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, some people have these symptoms without any type of ulcers. It is easy to write off these symptoms as a common cold or the flu. However, in the case of leishmaniasis, the symptoms do not typically go away after a week or so. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have an overwhelming feeling of just not being well and you are not sure what the cause of this may be, it is important to see your doctor in order to determine the underlying cause. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Unexplained Weight Loss<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Leishmaniasis is caused by a parasite. As this parasite spreads throughout the body it can cause many secondary symptoms. One of the secondary symptoms of this disease is weight loss<\/a>. A person who is suffering from the disease may experience weight loss for several reasons. When you have leishmaniasis you are likely to have trouble swallowing because of the lesions that form in the mouth. When it hurts to swallow you are automatically going to eat less. When you are not eating as much, chances are high that you are going to lose weight. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This symptom of the disease may seem like it is not a bad thing, especially if you are currently overweight. However, this form of weight loss is not healthy. If you are having difficulty swallowing and have some of the other symptoms on this list and notice that you are starting to lose weight, it is important to make sure that you see you, doctor, right away. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Enlarged Spleen<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The spleen <\/a>is an organ that has a similar structure to a big lymph node. The job of the spleen is to filter the blood. The spleen is very important when it comes to red blood cell production and is an important part of the immune system. When a person is infected with leishmaniasis, the spleen may become enlarged<\/p>\n\n\n\n

. As the spleen is attempting to filter the parasite out of the bloodstream, it may become overworked and aggravated. When this occurs, it may become inflamed and this inflammation can cause the spleen to swell or to become enlarged. A person may feel tenderness in the area of the spleen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There may also be a slight bulge that protrudes from the body. An enlarged spleen can become dangerous quite quickly, so it is important to seek medical attention right away so that a proper diagnosis and treatment plan can be put into place. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Enlarged Liver<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The liver <\/a>is located on the right side of the stomach. It is a large organ, weighing at around three pounds. Most of the time you cannot feel your liver because the rib cage provides it with protection. There are two sections of the liver, the left, and the right lobes. The liver is responsible for filtering toxins from the body. It is a very important organ and there are numerous things that can cause it to become overworked. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the body is infected by a parasite, the liver is going to try to help eliminate the parasite from the body. During this process, it may become inflamed because it is being overworked. An overworked liver may stop functioning properly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This can lead to many types of health issues. If you notice tenderness on your right side and have some of the symptoms on this list, it is important to get medical attention right away. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Fever<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When the body is fighting off any type of infection, chances are high that you are going to run a fever<\/a>. When a person has been infected with leishmaniasis, a fever is likely to occur. This typically happens not long after the secondary symptoms start to appear. A person may become quite weak and feverish during this stage of the illness. A fever can be treated with anti-inflammatory medications, but the fever will continue to come back until the parasite is eradicated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fevers are a symptom of many illnesses as the body needs to maintain a temperature that is constant. When the lymphatic system is fully engaged and the body enters full defense mode, the blood runs much faster. This causes the body to overheat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This will affect the other organs in the body and cause their functions to become weak, which can cause a person to feel quite ill. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Lymph Node Swelling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Swollen lymph nodes<\/a> are one of the first signs that something is wrong in the body. When the lymph nodes begin to swell, it is likely that you have an infection of some type. Leishmaniasis can cause the lymph nodes to swell. Typically, if a person is infected with the parasite it will be the lymph nodes located in the area where they were bitten that begin to swell. However, some people experience swollen lymph nodes in other areas of the body as well, including the neck, face, etc.\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your lymph nodes are swollen and you have any of the other symptoms on this list, especially unexplained sores, you need to see a doctor right away. These are often the first signs of the parasitic infection and if left untreated it can cause many other health issues. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While swollen lymph nodes can be a sign of a number of different ailments, it is important to get checked for leishmaniasis, especially if you have traveled to a tropical region. 
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