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Neurological involvement in visceral leishmaniasis: case report
Lílian Martins Oliveira Diniz1, Helena Duani, Camila Rodrigues Freitas
1Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Hospital Infantil João Paulo II, Fundação Hospitalar do Estado de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. lmodiniz@medicina.ufmg.br
Revista Da Sociedade Brasileira De Medicina Tropical
|December 25, 2010
Summary
Neurological symptoms, rarely seen in visceral leishmaniasis (VL), can be the initial sign of this severe disease. Prompt diagnosis and treatment led to symptom reversal in a pediatric case.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Neurology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a severe, fatal, vector-borne disease.
- Typical VL symptoms include fever, hepatosplenomegaly, weight loss, bleeding, and infections.
- Neurological manifestations of VL are uncommon.
Observation:
- This report details a child presenting with neurological signs as the primary symptoms of leishmaniasis.
- The child exhibited diminished muscle tone and extremity tremors.
- Diagnosis was confirmed via bone marrow parasite detection.
Findings:
- Neurological signs can be the initial presentation of visceral leishmaniasis.
- Specific treatment effectively reversed the observed neurological symptoms.
- The underlying mechanism of neurological involvement in VL requires further investigation.
Implications:
- Highlights the importance of considering VL in pediatric cases with unexplained neurological symptoms.
- Suggests neurological involvement may be underreported in visceral leishmaniasis.
- Emphasizes the efficacy of prompt diagnosis and treatment for visceral leishmaniasis.
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