What are the signs and symptoms of visceral leishmaniasis?

Visceral Leishmaniasis

• Fever.
• Weight loss (cachexia; wasting)
• Hepatosplenomegaly (usually, the spleen is more prominent than the liver)
• Pancytopenia—i.e., anemia, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia.
• A high total protein level and a low albumin level, with hypergammaglobulinemia.

What does visceral leishmaniasis look like?

The sores may start out as papules (bumps) or nodules (lumps) and may end up as ulcers (like a volcano, with a raised edge and central crater); skin ulcers may be covered by scab or crust. The sores usually are painless but can be painful.

How is kala azar diagnosed?

The most common serological tests used in the diagnosis of kala–azar are the DAT and the rk39 dipstick tests. These tests indicate the presence of antibodies against Leishmania, therefore confirming the parasite (antigen) is, or was, present in the body.

What are the clinical features of visceral leishmaniasis?

American visceral leishmaniasis (AVL) is a systemic protozoan infection characterized by fever, malaise, adynamia, and weight loss, besides splenomegaly, hepatomegaly, anemia, leukopenia, pancytopenia, and hypergammaglobulinemia.

How long does leishmaniasis last?

Visceral leishmaniasis is often fatal within two years if it’s not treated properly.

Can Leishmania be cured?

Leishmaniasis is a treatable and curable disease, which requires an immunocompetent system because medicines will not get rid of the parasite from the body, thus the risk of relapse if immunosuppression occurs.

What drugs are used to treat leishmaniasis?

The main drugs available for treatment of VL are the systemic agents like antimony, amphotericin, paromomycin and now the oral drug miltefosine.

Why leishmaniasis is called black fever?

Visceral disease, the most devastating and fatal form of leishmaniasis, is classically known as kala-azar or the Indian name for “black fever/disease,” which is a reference to the characteristic darkening of the skin that is seen in patients with this condition.

What is the life cycle of leishmaniasis?

Life Cycle: Leishmaniasis is transmitted by the bite of infected female phlebotomine sand flies. The sand flies inject the infective stage (i.e., promastigotes) from their proboscis during blood meals .

How does leishmaniasis affect the body?

Visceral leishmaniasis is sometimes known as systemic leishmaniasis or kala azar. It usually occurs two to eight months after being bitten by a sand fly. It damages internal organs, such as your spleen and liver. It also affects your bone marrow, as well as your immune system through damage to these organs.

Is Leishmania contagious?

Leishmaniasis is not contagious person to person. Sand fly bites are necessary to transfer the parasite from the sand fly to the human. The sand fly is the vector for the disease. The protozoan parasite has a life cycle that requires development in both the sand fly and a mammal (human, dogs and others).

What is the treatment of leishmaniasis?

The only Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved medications for the treatment of leishmaniasis are intravenous liposomal amphotericin B (L-AmB) for VL and oral miltefosine for CL, ML, and VL caused by particular species.