After a trip to several South American countries,a middle-aged man becomes ill.He becomes anemic,loses weight,and runs a fever.The clinician notes a recently healed sore near his nose.Microscopic examination of a blood smear does not reveal anything other than the anemia.What parasitic infection is consistent with this scenario?

Question

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The symptoms of anemia, weight loss, fever, and a recently healed sore near the nose are consistent with cutaneous leishmaniasis, a parasitic infection caused by the protozoan Leishmania. Microscopic examination of blood smears typically does not reveal the presence of the parasite. Malaria, Chagas disease, giardiasis, and balantidiasis do not fit the described symptoms or lesion location.

After a Trip to Several South American Countries,a Middle-Aged Man