Traditional treatments in an endemic area of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Peru

Authors

  • Roberto Pineda-Reyes Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia. Lima, Peru.
  • Alejandro Llanos-Cuentas Instituto de Medicina Tropical Alexander von Humboldt, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia. Lima, Peru.
  • Mauricio Dancuart Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia. Lima, Peru.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17843/rpmesp.2015.324.1770

Keywords:

Leishmaniasis, cutaneous, Treatment, Medicine, traditional

Abstract

In order to know the first-choice treatment by villagers of an endemic area of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) prior to medical attention in a health care center, a cross sectional study was realized in Pichupampa town. A census was made in order to collect demographic data and previous history of CL. 254 participants were surveyed. 41.7% (106/254) of the village had CL at least once in their lives and only half of them went to a health center to seek for primary care. 76/106 (71.7%) used some traditional treatment as their first choice and only 23.6% (25/106) subjects went to a health-care center without manipulation of their lesions. It’s evident that a high percentage (71.7%) of people potentially infected by CL manipulate and treat their lesions with traditional treatments prior to professional health-care, actions that could interfere with the diagnosis and effectiveness of the program implemented by the Health Ministry.

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Published

2015-12-06

Issue

Section

Brief Report

How to Cite

1.
Pineda-Reyes R, Llanos-Cuentas A, Dancuart M. Traditional treatments in an endemic area of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Peru. Rev Peru Med Exp Salud Publica [Internet]. 2015 Dec. 6 [cited 2024 Mar. 29];32(4):761-5. Available from: https://rpmesp.ins.gob.pe/index.php/rpmesp/article/view/1770

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