Abstract
To describe the clinical and demographic features of patients with visceral leishmaniasis (VL), from Sudan, Africa. A descriptive study was conducted during 5 years period on confirmed VL patients. These patients are, originally, from White Nile Province (WNP) region, a previously non-endemic VL focus which is located in southern part of Sudan. They were referred during the period 2006-2010 for management at Tropical Diseases Hospital (TDH) in the capital Khartoum. The patients data were retrieved from the hospital electronic software system, and were studied. A total of 71 patients with VL were reviewed. The main clinical features were: fever 68 (95.8%), splenomegaly 66 (93%), weight loss 61 (85.9%), pallor 59 (83.1%), hepatomegaly 52 (73.2%). The most notable haematology finding was the mean Hb value (7.6 g/dL) on admission to hospital. Gender showed males at higher risk for VL as compared to females with a ratio of 3:1 (53 vs 18). VL was largely a disease of children with 42 (59.1%) aged < 15 year, and around quarter (23.9%) under 5 years. The clinical features of Sudanese VL in WNP region is, generally, similar to the pattern seen globally in endemic foci. The majority of the study population are paediatric indigenous VL patients, suggesting that adults were immune, and indicating change of disease pattern from previous sporadic to present endemic. This finding emphasizes the need for research to better understand VL in non-endemic areas with the objective of developing effective and sustainable control strategies.
Highlights
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL), known as kalaazar, is a protozoal parasitic disease caused by Leishmania donovani complex, and transmitted1
Table-I shows the clinical symptoms of the 71 VL study patients
Table-II shows the clinical signs of the 71 VL study patients
Summary
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL), known as kalaazar, is a protozoal parasitic disease caused by Leishmania donovani complex, and transmitted. MBBS, MD, MSc (Tropical Medicine), Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, Jouf University, Jouf, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. MBBS, PhD, DTM&H, Parasitology Unit, College of Medicine, Qassim University, Qassim, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Correspondence: November 10, 2012 March 13, 2013 to man by the bite of infected female sandfly Phlebotomus spp. in Africa.[1] VL is an infection of the reticulo-endothelial system characterized clinically by a chronic febrile course, and associated with loss of weight and hepato-splenomegaly. The diagnosis is usually established by identification of the parasite in aspirate material from bone marrow, spleen, or lymph nodes. VL causes 60-70 thousand deaths every year.[2]
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