A successful treatment of a Kenyan case of unresponsive cutaneous leishmaniasis with a combination of pentostam and oral allopurinol: Case Report

Abstract

A nine year aged male presented with facial lesions and the problem of responding to conventional treatment of leishmaniasis. Multiple injections of antimony and several topical ointments had been administered in hospital but fresh lesions erupted with potential to disfigure. Smears examined from nodular lesions confirmed presence of Leishmania amastigotes and parenteral pentostam was commenced for over eight weeks. A partial clinical outcome was achieved judged by extent of re-epithelialisation. Combined therapy of pentostam and oral allopurinol at a dose of 7mg/kg/ day was started and finalised at 120 days. All facial lesions receded and 100% re-epithelialisation of the lesions established.