Topical treatment of New World cutaneous leishmaniasis in Belize: a clinical study.

BACKGROUND

Many studies have been performed during the past decade to find an effective topical therapy for cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL).

OBJECTIVE

Our purpose was to evaluate the effect of paromomycin ointment (P-ointment) containing 15% paromomycin sulfate and 12% methylbenzethonium chloride on Belizean patients with New World CL.

METHODS

Fifty-three patients were treated twice daily for 14 to 21 days with P-ointment.

RESULTS

Sixty-eight percent of the patients healed, 6% had a delayed cure, and 26% did not respond. No toxic effects from the ointment were observed.

CONCLUSION

Topical paromomycin is as efficacious in the treatment of New World CL as other currently accepted modalities that are potentially more toxic.