What is the Aleppo boil?
The Aleppo boil is the old popular name for cutaneous leishmaniasis, and some also call it the year sore. This name became tied to the city of Aleppo because the disease stayed common there for many centuries, until it became part of the memory of the city and its people.
The disease is neither new nor strange, but is one of the diseases endemic to the region. Yet despite its age, it still causes concern because of the scar it may leave, especially on the face, and the psychological and social effect that sometimes comes with it.
What causes it and how does it spread?
The cause is a microscopic parasite called Leishmania, and in Aleppo a type known as Leishmania tropica predominates. This parasite passes to humans through the bite of a very small female fly called the sandfly, which is smaller than an ordinary mosquito and is often active at dusk and night.
It is important to know that the disease does not pass directly from an infected person to another by touch or contact. The only vector is the sandfly, so prevention focuses on avoiding its bites and limiting its breeding places.
How does it appear on the skin?
Infection usually begins as a small bump on exposed skin, often on the face, hands, or legs, the places a bite can easily reach. The bump grows slowly over weeks and may turn into an open sore that is usually painless.
In most cases the sore heals on its own over months, but it leaves a permanent scar that can be noticeable if it is on the face. This is why it should not be taken lightly or treated with folk methods that may worsen the inflammation or the scar.
Why did it rise in Syria during the war?
The Aleppo boil existed before the crisis, but the war years worsened it greatly. World Health Organization data point to tens of thousands of new cases recorded in a single year across Syria, a figure far higher than the rate known before the crisis.
The reasons for this rise are understandable: displacement and crowding into new areas, the accumulation of rubble and waste that provides a breeding environment for the sandfly, weakened insect-control programs, and reduced access to early diagnosis and treatment.
- Displacement and crowding into areas that may be endemic.
- Accumulated rubble and waste as a breeding environment for the fly.
- Weakened insect-control and spraying programs.
- Difficulty accessing early diagnosis and treatment.
Diagnosis and treatment
A doctor suspects the Aleppo boil from the shape of the sore, its history, and its presence in an endemic area, and usually confirms the diagnosis by taking a simple sample from the edge of the sore for laboratory examination. Early diagnosis helps in choosing the right treatment and reducing the scar.
Several treatment options are available, some applied locally to the sore itself and some medicinal depending on the number, location, and size of the sores. Do not try to treat the sore with cautery or folk remedies. See a dermatologist or a health center, because the skin form of the disease is rarely life-threatening, but early treatment protects against scars and complications.
How to protect yourself and your family
Since the disease spreads through a sandfly bite, prevention mainly means avoiding bites, especially at dusk and at night when the fly is active. Prevention is far easier than treatment, and it is both an individual and a community responsibility.
At the level of the home and neighborhood, cleaning the surroundings and removing rubble and waste helps reduce the fly's breeding places. At the individual level there are simple and effective steps.
- Wear clothing that covers the arms and legs at dusk and in the evening.
- Use insect repellent on exposed skin.
- Sleep under a fine-mesh net, since the sandfly is very small.
- Put screens on windows and close them in the evening when possible.
- Clean the area around the home of rubble and waste that attract the fly.
If you notice a bump or sore on your skin that does not heal, you can ask the AI assistant in the Sihtak app about the signs that call for a doctor's visit, while it always reminds you that a final diagnosis is made by a specialist. You can save dated photos of how the condition develops to show your doctor, set reminders for treatment and follow-up appointments, and keep track of your family members in one place.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Aleppo boil contagious through contact?
It does not pass directly from one person to another by touch or contact. The only vector for the disease is the bite of a sandfly carrying the parasite, so prevention focuses on avoiding bites.
Does the Aleppo boil leave a permanent scar?
It may leave a scar, especially if it is on the face, treatment is delayed, or it is treated with harsh folk methods. Early treatment with a specialist reduces the chance and size of the scar.
Is it life-threatening?
The skin form (the Aleppo boil) is rarely life-threatening, but it is worth treating to reduce scarring and complications. There are other, more dangerous forms of leishmaniasis that affect internal organs and need urgent medical care.
How do I protect my children from it?
Protect your children from sandfly bites with covering clothes in the evening, a repellent suitable for their age, sleeping under a fine-mesh net, and cleaning the area around the home of rubble and waste.
Sources
This content is for health education only and is not a substitute for medical advice. If you have symptoms that worry you, see your doctor.