Objective: To compare intralesional versus oral chloroquine in cutaneous leishmaniasis and determine the cure rate, duration of treatment, and total dose of drug.
Study design: Randomized controlled study.
Place and duration of study: Department of Dermatology, Sheikh Zayed Medical College/Hospital, Rahim Yar Khan, from November 2013 to June 2014.
Methodology: Consecutive 86 patients of cutaneous leishmaniasis, with single to multiple lesions of various sizes were enrolled and divided randomly into group Aand B for the purpose of intralesional and oral chloroquine administration, respectively to compare the effect of the two routes on duration of treatment and total dose of the drug. SPSS version 16 was used for data analysis after data entry into it. Quantitative variables like, duration, cost and total dose of treatment were calculated as mean and standard deviation and compared by using T-test. P-value of less than 0.05 was taken as significant.
Results: Cure rate was 100% in both groups towards the end of treatment. Mean duration of treatment was 9.17 ±3 weeks in intralesional (A) group as against 11.37 ±3 weeks in oral (B) group (p = 0.0028). Mean total dose of the drug given to each patient in group Awas 5.8 ±0.5 gm and in group B, it was 19.2 ±1.5 gm, which is significantly higher (p < 0.001). The total cost of treatment in group Awas Rs. 90 ±8 and in group B it was Rs. 91 ±1 (p=0.446).
Conclusion: Duration of treatment is significantly shorter and total dose is lesser with intralesional compared to oral chloroquine in treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis.