Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a disease that in Mexico particularly only records cases in the Yucatán Peninsula and the Gulf region.
This infectious disease that affects the skin is caused by protozoa of the genus Leishmania and transmitted to animals and humans by vectors.
The disease is transmitted through the bite of the sand fly or “Papalotilla” mosquito of the Psychodidae family, which is the unique and exclusive carrier of this protozoan.
According to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the incubation period in humans is on average two to three months before they begin to develop one or more skin lesions, with ulcers that can change in size and appearance over time.
The lesions, popularly known as “chiclero ulcers,” start as a papule that evolves into a rounded, painless nodule that progressively increases in size.
Initially, the ulcers are covered by a scab, and when it falls off, a typical ulcer with a clean, pink base and granular tissue is revealed. The ulcer is round, has regular and raised edges, is painless, and has an indurated base.
This disease, which is very common in the Yucatán Peninsula, has seen an unusual increase in cases during 2023 compared to the past four years, according to data from the federal Ministry of Health.
TYT Newsroom