FREQUENCY OF VISCERAL LEISHMANIASIS IN ABBOTTABAD FROM 2005 TO 2009

Authors

  • Seema Nadeem
  • Sabah Shamroz
  • Touqueer Iqbal
  • Modood ul Manan
  • Abdus Salaam

Abstract

Background: Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease caused by a haemoflagellate Leishmania, transmittedto humans through bites of female sand fly. The objective of this study was to assess the frequency ofleishmaniasis in Abbottabad and nearby areas including villages of Nawanshehr, Dhodial, Gamavan,Sheikhulbandi, Kakul and Malikpura. Method: This was a retrospective study carried out in PathologyDepartment, Women Medical College and Benazir Bhutto Teaching Hospital Abbottabad from 2005 to2009. The diagnosis was based on intracellular and extracellular amastigote forms of Leishmaniadonovani in the bone marrow aspirates. Results: We diagnosed 61 cases of visceral leishmaniasis,mostly from Nawanshehr (32.78%), in children below 5 years of age with febrile splenomegaly.Conclusion: The disease is gradually spreading southwards in the country. A high index of suspicionshould be kept in mind for all cases coming from Northern Areas of the country where the frequency isquite high. Local health authorities should take drastic action against this spreading disease.Keywords: visceral leishmaniasis, bone marrow, leishmaniasis

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Published

2010-09-01

Issue

Vol. 22 No. 3 (2010): JOURNAL OF AYUB MEDICAL COLLEGE, ABBOTTABAD

Section

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

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