2. Mucocutaneous Leishmaniasis
If the skin ulcers are left untreated it can create other health issues. The leishmaniasis may turn into mucocutaneous leishmaniasis. The symptoms of this form of the disease will typically appear within one to five years after a person has developed the skin lesions. Typically, when this occurs, ulcers will appear on the nose, mouth, or lips. A person may then develop a runny nose and have chronic nosebleeds.
If this is left untreated the lesions in the mouth can make it difficult to swallow and can even cause a person to have difficulty breathing. Treatment for leishmaniasis needs to be prompt. However, the main issue with this parasitic disease is that the symptoms may take a very long time to appear.
Many people do not realize that they have the parasite until it has spread throughout the body, which is why the disease can be deadly, especially in areas where there is little medical care.