[Nasal wart lesion: a Moroccan case of atypical cutaneous leishmaniasis].

INTRODUCTION/JUSTIFICATION: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is an endemic parasitic disease in Morocco. It is of particular concern due to the diversity of species involved and their varied clinical manifestations. Leishmania infantum, which is often associated with visceral leishmaniasis, can also cause localized cutaneous forms of the disease in certain epidemiological contexts. We present a case of atypical nasal CL caused by L. infantum.

OBSERVATION: A 60-year-old female patient residing in Salé with no significant medical history presented with a verrucous inflammatory lesion on the left side of her nose. The lesion appeared six months after she stayed in the city of Taza. Clinical examination and parasitological analysis led to a diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis. PCR-RFLP identified the species as L. infantum. The lesion partially healed after treatment with meglumine antimoniate.

DISCUSSION/

CONCLUSION

This case reports an atypical presentation of CL in the form of a rare verrucous nasal lesion caused by L. infantum. This species is classically associated with visceral leishmaniasis, but it is increasingly being reported in localized cutaneous manifestations. This case demonstrates the clinical diversity of CL. The delay in diagnosis resulted in only partial healing, which highlights the importance of early recognition of unusual forms. This case also underscores the need to strengthen epidemiological surveillance and raise awareness among healthcare professionals and exposed populations as part of an integrated strategy to combat CL.