History:

Leishmania recidivans (Chronic lupoid leishmaniasis) is a rare complicating form of cutaneous leishmaniasis. It usually complicates dry cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by L. tropica. After healing of the initial (mother) lesion, there may appear a few soft red papules that have the “apple jelly” characteristic of lupus vulgaris on diascopy. The papules most commonly involve the face (at or around the scar of previously healed lesion) and spread peripherally with no tendency for spontaneous healing. Leishmanin test is strongly positive and the no. of parasites in skin smear or biopsy is scanty. This child had typical history and presentation with consistent histological picture on skin biopsy.