Although visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis are important clinical and public health problems worldwide, these diseases are not endemic in Singapore and the medical profession here has little opportunity to diagnose and manage these conditions. We report our experience with two patients with culture-proven visceral leishmaniasis and one with histologically proven cutaneous leishmaniasis. The patients with kala-azar were migrant workers from countries in which the disease is endemic. The patient with proven cutaneous leishmaniasis (and another who was diagnosed to have the condition clinically) had entered the jungles of an endemic area. With increasing travel on the part of Singaporeans along less well-trodden paths to exotic destinations, as well as the burgeoning traffic of migrant workers from less developed countries, doctors in Singapore will continue to see diseases such as leishmaniasis.
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The author(s) declare there are no affiliations with or involvement in any organisation or entity with any financial interest in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript.
