Treatment of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Children (Age Under 18)

Managing cutaneous leishmaniasis in paediatric patients under 18 years requires careful attention to age-related factors that shape treatment decisions alongside the standard approach to the disease.

Clinical Scenario

This protocol applies to children under 18 years of age presenting with cutaneous leishmaniasis. In general, the same treatment guidelines that apply to adults also apply to children. However, patient age is an important modifying factor — particularly in younger children — that influences which interventions are appropriate.

Treatment Approach

For small nodular lesions, management may include observation alone or a localised physical treatment option such as cryotherapy. Beyond this, lesion characteristics and patient age determine the full treatment path — the complete decision algorithm and further options are available in the full protocol.

Treatment Goal

The primary clinical objective is complete reepithelialization — full healing — of the cutaneous lesion.

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References

DOI: 10.1111/jtm.12089

In general, the guidelines above also apply to children.
One is reluctant to do infiltrations on the faces of children younger than 7 years.
Small nodular lesions may be left alone or treated with cryotherapy only and multiple or large lesions can be treated with fluconazole or with miltefosine (2.5–3 mg/kg).
Treatment failure is present when reepithelialization is incomplete 3 months after starting therapy.

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