Nasal Leishmaniasis Americana in Panama

TEXTBOOKS of otolaryngology, as a rule, do not describe tropical conditions of the ear, nose, and throat. However, modern travel and war may bring patients suffering from such diseases to the temperate zone. In the United States, Fasal and Gradow1described a case of American leishmaniasis in the auricle of a laborer from El Salvador who had worked in Guatemala. Reipen2and Partenheimer3reported from Germany involvement of the nasal mucosa in patients who had lived in Brazil. Thus, a short account of the condition, together with personal observation of eight cases, may be warranted. Affection of the nose has been reported from Panama in only one case, by Bates4in 1913. Bates's report concerned a patient from another region of the Republic of Panama (San Carlos, Los Santos Province). There is little doubt that Bates's diagnosis of affection of the nasal mucosa was correct, even