Leishmaniasis (cont.)
How is leishmaniasis treated?
Your health care provider can talk with CDC
staff about whether your case of leishmaniasis should be treated, and, if so,
how. Most people who have cutaneous leishmaniasis do not need to be hospitalized
during their treatment.
How is leishmaniasis prevented?
The best way for travelers to prevent
leishmaniasis is by protecting themselves from sand fly bites. Vaccines and
drugs for preventing infection are not yet available. To decrease their risk of
being bitten, travelers should:
- Stay in well-screened or air-conditioned areas as much as possible. Avoid
outdoor activities, especially from dusk to dawn, when sand flies are the most
active.
- When outside, wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and socks. Tuck your
shirt into your pants.
- Apply insect repellent on uncovered skin and under the ends of sleeves and
pant legs. Follow the instructions on the label of the repellent. The most
effective repellents are those that contain the chemical DEET (N,N-diethylmetatoluamide).
The concentration of DEET varies among repellents. Repellents with DEET
concentrations of 30%-35% are quite effective, and the effect should last about 4
hours. Lower concentrations should be used for children (no more than 10% DEET).
Repellents with DEET should be used sparingly on children from 2 to 6 years old
and not at all on children less than 2 years old.
- Spray clothing with permethrin-containing insecticides. The insecticide
should be reapplied after every five washings.
- Spray living and sleeping areas with an insecticide to kill insects.
- If you are not sleeping in an area that is well screened or air-conditioned,
use a bed net and tuck it under your mattress. If possible, use a bed net that
has been soaked in or sprayed with permethrin. The permethrin will be effective
for several months if the bed net is not washed. Keep in mind that sand flies
are much smaller than mosquitoes and therefore can get through smaller holes.
Fine-mesh netting (at least 18 holes to the inch; some sources say even finer)
is needed for an effective barrier against sand flies. This is particularly
important if the bed net has not been treated with permethrin. However, it may
be uncomfortable to sleep under such a closely woven bed net when it is hot.
NOTE: Bed nets, repellents containing DEET, and permethrin should be purchased
before traveling and can be found in hardware, camping, and military surplus
stores.
Next: If I have already had leishmaniasis, could I get it again? »
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