CLINICAL PRESENTATION AND MANAGEMENT OF VISCERAL LEISHMANIASIS
Abstract
Background: Febrile illnesses like malaria, typhoid, and tuberculosis are the commonestproblems in our area, but visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is also one of the diseases presenting with
fever in this part of the country. This study was conducted to evaluate its clinical spectrum and
way of management. Methods: This study was conducted in Paediatric Department of Women
and Children Hospital and Ayub Teaching Hospital, Abbottabad from October 1985 to August
1999 during which 70 cases of VL were diagnosed and managed. Results: All patients were
below 10 years of age and were from Hazara division. Majority of them were from two specific
localities, one in Abbottabad District (43%) and the other in Mansehra District (14%). Common
clinical features were Fever 99%, Splenomegaly (99%), Anaemia (96%), Hepatomegaly (86%),
distension of abdomen (47%) and bleeding diathesis 14%. Haemoglobin was below 7.9 gm in
82.86%, white cell count was below 4000/mm3 in 42.85%, Platelet count was below 100000/mm3
in 67.14% and ESR was >50 mm at the end of first hour in 86% of the patients. All the patients
showed Leishmania Donovani bodies in the bone marrow smears except one, where tap was dry
and then trephine biopsy was performed to confirm the diagnosis. In 67 cases amastigote form
was found and only in 3 patients the promastigotes were found. Fifty two patients had received
meglumine antimoniate (glucantime) and 18 received sodium stibogluconate (pentostam) along
with supportive therapy. Mortality was 11.43%. Conclusions: The disease is gradually spreading
southwards in the country. Children below 5 years are mainly affected. Bone marrow
examination is the most reliable and simple method of diagnosis. A high index of suspicion must
he kept in mind for all febrile cases coming from Hazara division, Northern areas, Azad Kashmir.
Keywords: Leishmaniasis, Visceral Leishmaniasis, Febrile Illness
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