[Cutaneous leishmaniasis (Oriental sore) of the lids (author's transl)].

After initial false diagnoses cutaneous leishmaniasis of the lids was diagnosed in a Portuguese woman and a Turkish man, both living and working in Germany. This paper describes the clinical pictures, histological and electron-microscopic findings in the two cases. Factors which may lead to false diagnosis are also discussed. It is pointed out that false diagnoses can be avoided best by taking a detailed and accurate history and identifying the pathogens as early as possible in smear cultures or by electron microscopy.