Abstract

Background: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a parasitic infection caused by Leishmania species and is endemic in several regions, including Saudi Arabia.
Case Presentation: A case of a 61-year-old male was reported, who presented with a 2-month history of progressive, pruritic, erythematous, crusted facial plaques involving the nasal bridge and bilateral cheeks following travel to an endemic area. Histopathological examination demonstrated chronic granulomatous inflammation with intracellular amastigotes consistent with CL. The patient was treated with oral itraconazole (200 mg twice daily for 30 days), resulting in significant clinical improvement.
Conclusion: Oral itraconazole has been proven to be effective in managing CL; however, further research and clinical data are necessary to refine treatment protocols and assess the comparative effectiveness across different Leishmania species. Clinical suspicion and early detection are critical, and should involve a comprehensive approach, including clinical evaluation, histopathology, and laboratory testing.

Key words: Cutaneous leishmaniasis, treatment, itraconazole, Leishmania, case report, literature review, Saudi Arabia