What is Leishmaniasis?
{{Infobox disease | Name = Leishmaniasis | Image = Skin ulcer due to leishmaniasis, hand of Central American adult 3MG0037 lores.jpg | Caption = Cutaneous leishmaniasis in the hand of a [[Central America]]n adult | ICD10 = {{ICD10|B|55||b|50}} | ICD9 = {{ICD9|085}} | DiseasesDB = 3266 | MedlinePlus = 001386 | eMedicineSubj = emerg | eMedicineTopic = 296 | MeshID = D007896 | }} '''Leishmaniasis''' or '''leishmaniosis'''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/leishmaniasis |title=Leishmaniasis |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=2016 |website=Collins Online Dictionary |publisher=Collins |accessdate=June 2, 2016 |quote=}}</ref> is a [[disease]] caused by [[protozoan]] [[parasite]]s of the genus ''[[Leishmania]]''. It is spread by the bite of certain types of [[sandflies]].<ref name=WHO2014/> The disease has three forms:<ref name=WHO2014>{{cite web|title=Leishmaniasis Fact sheet N°375|url=http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs375/en/|work=World Health Organization|accessdate=17 February 2014|date=January 2014}}</ref><ref name=Barrett2012/> *'''Cutaneous leishmaniasis''': skin [[ulcer]]s *'''Mucocutaneous leishmaniasis''': ulcers of the skin, mouth and nose *'''Visceral leishmaniasis''': starts with skin ulcers, then [[fever]], low [[red blood cell]]s, and a large [[spleen]] and [[liver]] Leishmaniasis in humans is caused by more than 20 [[species]] of ''Leishmania''.<ref name=WHO2014/> [[Risk factor]]s include [[poverty]], [[malnutrition]], [[deforestation]] and urbanization.<ref name=WHO2014/> All three types can be [[diagnosis|diagnosed]] by identifying the parasites under a [[microscope]].<ref name=WHO2014/> The visceral form can be diagnosed with a [[blood test]].<ref name=Barrett2012/> Leishmaniasis can be partly prevented by sleeping under nets treated with [[insecticide]].<ref name=WHO2014/> Another way is using insecticides to kill sandflies. Early treatment of people with