[Misleading forms of visceral leishmaniasis in children. Apropos of 5 cases]

The authors report the cases of five children in whom kala-azar was undiagnosed at first instance. In these cases, the diagnosis was misled because of incomplete features (lack of fever, splenomegaly or hypergammaglobulinemia) an associated disease (hydatic cyst of the liver) or a complication dominating the clinical pattern (septicemia, staphylococcus respiratory infection). In one case, the patient was explored in order to diagnose portal hypertension.