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Visceral leishmaniasis in District Dir, NWFP
JPMA. the Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association
|November 14, 1998
Summary
Visceral leishmaniasis in children from District Dir showed common symptoms like fever and enlarged spleen. All patients responded well to stibogluconate treatment, achieving a 100% cure rate.
Area of Science:
- Tropical Medicine
- Infectious Diseases
- Parasitology
Background:
- Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a significant parasitic disease endemic in District Dir, NWFP.
- The study focuses on pediatric VL cases in a specific region.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the clinical presentation, laboratory findings, and treatment outcomes of visceral leishmaniasis in children.
- To assess the efficacy of stibogluconate therapy in this patient cohort.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective evaluation of 10 pediatric patients diagnosed with visceral leishmaniasis.
- Clinical and laboratory data collection, including physical examination and blood/bone marrow analysis.
- Assessment of treatment response to stibogluconate (Glucantime Sodium).
Main Results:
- All 10 patients presented with chronic fever, splenomegaly, hepatomegaly, and weight loss.
- Common laboratory findings included anemia, leucopenia, thrombocytopenia, and hypergammaglobulinaemia.
- 100% diagnostic accuracy with the Formal Gel test and positive bone marrow smears for Leishmania Donovani (L.D.) bodies.
- Stibogluconate therapy resulted in a 100% cure rate.
Conclusions:
- Visceral leishmaniasis in children in District Dir presents with characteristic clinical and laboratory features.
- Formal Gel test and bone marrow examination are reliable diagnostic tools.
- Stibogluconate (Glucantime Sodium) is a highly effective treatment for visceral leishmaniasis in this population, achieving complete recovery.