Please login or create an account. If you do not have access to this content, you will be shown a 30 second preview and licensing options.
- Presentation
Maladies from Central & South America
Description
Dr. Dario Martinez presented various illnesses relevant to travelers from Central and South America, which include common skin lesions and diseases caused by parasites and infections. Among the key issues addressed were cutaneous larva migrans, most frequently contracted from walking barefoot on contaminated beaches; tungiasis, caused by a flea that burrows into the skin; and myiasis, caused by larval infestations that can lead to severe complications. Other diseases discussed included leishmaniasis, characterized by skin ulcers, and Chagas disease, transmitted by kissing bugs and leading to serious cardiac complications. The presentation emphasized the importance of prevention strategies for travelers, such as avoiding contact with contaminated soil and practicing good hygiene. Treatments for these conditions often include antiparasitic medications, topical therapies, and in severe cases, surgical intervention. Dr. Martinez highlighted the increasing encounters that dermatologists in the U.S. may have with such diseases as more travelers return from areas with endemic infections. He also expressed the need for awareness and education on these illnesses among healthcare providers.
View moreConclusions
- Travelers returning from Central and South America frequently experience skin conditions such as myiasis, cutaneous larva migrans, allergic rashes, and leishmaniasis.
- Myiasis, caused by fly larvae, is a significant traveler disease, particularly affecting regions like South Mexico and Belize.
- Cutaneous larva migrans, often linked to exposure on beaches with dogs, presents with very itchy creeping eruptions and can be treated effectively with albendazole or ivermectin.
- Tungiasis, caused by the chigoe flea, presents as a wart-like lesion and can lead to secondary infections if not treated adequately.
- Leishmaniasis, particularly cutaneous leishmaniasis, poses risks to travelers and necessitates prompt diagnosis and treatment, typically involving pentavalent antimonials.
- Chagas disease remains a critical vector-borne illness in endemic regions, with about 20-30% of infected individuals developing chronic symptoms, including cardiac complications.
- Dermatologists must be aware of these maladies in travelers to provide appropriate care and management.
- Prevention strategies for these diseases include the use of repellents, wearing appropriate clothing, and avoiding risky food and housing conditions during travel.
- Int J Infect Dis. 2008; 12(6):593-602.
- Semin Cutan Med Surg 33:133-135 @ 2014 Frontline Medical Communications.
- Semin Cutan Med Surg 2014;33:133-135.
- Am J Clin Dermatol 2016;17(5):451-462.
- Dermatol Online Journal 2008;14(12):3.
- Clin Exp Dermatol 2017;42(3):331-334.
- Medicina Clinica Practica 2024;7(4) DOI: 10.1016/j.mcpsp.2024.100466.
- Curr Treat Options Infect Dis 2015;7(1):52-62.
- J Am Acad Dermatol 2015;73:911-926.
- Infect Dis Clin N Am 2012;26:275-291.
- J Dtsch Dermatol Ges 2010;8(8):619-627.
- PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2014;8(8):e3102.
- New Eng J Med 2011;364(26):2527-2534.
- Int J Dermatol 2012;51(8):952-959.