Effectiveness of Carbon Dioxide Cryotherapy for the Treatment of Localized Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Ethiopia

Zewdu, FT

; Aragaw, YK; Daba, DB; Alemu, K; Gadisa, E; Walker, SL

and (2025) Effectiveness of Carbon Dioxide Cryotherapy for the Treatment of Localized Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Ethiopia. JEADV Clinical Practice. pp. 1-6. ISSN 2768-6566 DOI: 10.1002/jvc2.70061

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Background: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a public health problem in Ethiopia. Diagnosis is often delayed, and treatment options are limited. Liquid nitrogen cryotherapy is a recommended treatment but not widely available. Carbon dioxide (CO2) cryotherapy is used for the prevention of cervical cancer and is widely available in Ethiopia and might be a suitable therapy for treating localized CL.

Objectives: The aim of this short report is to assess the effectiveness of carbon dioxide cryotherapy for the treatment of CL in CL treatment centre, Ethiopia.

Methods: We performed a prospective study assessing the effectiveness of CO2 cryotherapy for the treatment of localized CL between September 2022 and June 2023 at an established CL treatment centre.

Results: Seventeen individuals with 24 CL lesions were enrolled. Twelve (70.6%) were confirmed using a skin slit smear and five by histopathology (29.4%). Nine (52.9%) individuals received a single session of CO2 cryotherapy, five received two (29.4%) and three (17.65%) received three sessions of cryotherapy. At Day 90, 16 participants were assessed and 14 (82.4%) had healed.

Conclusions: CO2 cryotherapy shows promise as a potential treatment strategy for CL. Formal evaluations are required.