Clinical criteria for Mucosal Leishmaniasis diagnosis in rural South America: A systematic literature review.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Mucosal Leishmaniasis (ML), a neglected tropical disease caused by Leishmania parasites, impairs the quality of life of under-resourced populations in South America. If not treated promptly, this disease progresses to facial deformities and death. The low sensitivity of microscopy results and the unavailability of other accurate tests hamper the diagnosis. As clinical criteria are readily available in any setting, these may be combined in a syndromic algorithm, which in turn can be used as a diagnostic tool. We explore potential clinical criteria for a syndromic diagnostic algorithm for ML in rural healthcare settings in South America.

Methodology/principal findings

The protocol for this systematic review was pre-registered in PROSPERO with the number: CRD42017074

SUBMITTER: Bezemer JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9365133 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature