This is the VOA SpecialEnglish Development Report.
Doctors from the United States and Saudi Arabia have discovered anew treatment for the form of leishmaniasis (LEASH-ma-NIGH-a-sis)disease that affects the skin. Currently, the World HealthOrganization estimates that twelve-million people are infected withthe disease. In addition, at least three-hundred-fifty-millionpeople in eighty-eight countries may be at risk of being infected.
Leishmaniasis is caused by tiny organisms called parasites. Smallinsects called sandflies spread the disease.
There are two major forms ofleishmaniasis. The most severe form of the disease affects organs inthe body. It causes death if not treated quickly. Another kind ofleishmaniasis is called cutaneous, or skin-related. It causesserious wounds on the face, arms and legs. Skin-related forms ofleishmaniasis are the most common and represent up to seventy-fivepercent of all new cases.
A new study about treating the disease was published in the NewEngland Journal of Medicine. The Saudi and American doctors foundthat the drug fluconazole (floo-KAHN-uh-zol) can be used to treatcutaneous leishmaniasis. Fluconazole is used to treat other skindiseases.
James Maguire is an expert on parasite diseases at the UnitedStates Centers for Disease Control. He took part in the lateststudy. It tested fluconazole on more than one-hundred patients inSaudi Arabia. One group of patients was given the drug every day forsix weeks. The other group was given an inactive substance.
The doctors found that almost eighty percent of the patientstaking fluconazole were completely healed. About thirty-four percentof the people not taking the drug also were healed. The doctors alsodiscovered that patients experienced fewer side effects fromfluconazole compared to older drugs used to treat leishmaniasis.
The doctors say the drug is effective against the most commonform of cutaneous leishmaniasis in the Middle East and parts ofAfrica. However, they say it does not work well on the kind of thedisease found in South Asia and South America. The drug also costs alot of money. Doctor Maguire says countries should providefluconazole for free or at a reduced cost to patients who need it.
This VOA Special English Development Report was written by JillMoss.