Abstract:
Sri Lanka is a new focus of human leishmaniasis caused by L. donovani. Over 2200 cases
have been referred to General Hospital, Polonnaruwa for diagnosis. L.donovani is a
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species known to be transmitted anthroponotically without the involvement of an animal
reservoir. Hence early case detection and management is accepted as the main control
strategy. To facilitate early case detection and management, accurate case description is
important. It is best done at local level due to the wide spectrum of clinical manifestations
in cutaneous leishmaniasis patients. This information is also necessary to enable more
effective awareness programs, field screening programs and drug trials which are all
timely needs in this field
