What are the complications of kala-azar?

What are the complications of kala-azar?

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL), also known as kala-azar is fatal if left untreated in over 95% of cases. It is characterized by irregular bouts of fever, weight loss, enlargement of the spleen and liver, and anaemia. Most cases occur in Brazil, East Africa and in India.

What disease is caused by Leishmania donovani?

VISCERAL LEISHMANIASIS (KALA-AZAR) Visceral leishmaniasis is caused by Leishmania donovani and is endemic in parts of India, Africa, and Southwest Asia.

What causes post kala-azar?

Post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) is a common complication of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) caused by Leishmania donovani. Because of its possible role in transmission it is considered a public health problem in VL endemic areas.

What is the key early symptom of leishmaniasis?

What are the symptoms and signs of visceral leishmaniasis? Some people have a silent infection, without any symptoms or signs. People who develop clinical evidence of infection usually have fever, weight loss, enlargement (swelling) of the spleen and liver, and abnormal blood tests.

How is PKDL diagnosed?

Conventionally, PKDL is diagnosed by detecting amastigotes in slit skin or skin biopsy smear under microscopy.

Which pathogen causes kala-azar?

Kala-Azar is a slow progressing indigenous disease caused by a protozoan parasite of the genus Leishmania.

Is kala-azar STD?

Kala-azar. The leishmaniases are a group of diseases caused by protozoan parasites from more than 20 Leishmania species. These parasites are transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected female phlebotomine sandfly, a tiny 2-3 mm long insect vector.

Which organ is affected by kala-azar Class 9?

Kala-Azar is a slow progressing indigenous disease caused by a protozoan parasite of the genus Leishmania. The parasite primarily infects the reticulo-endothelial system and may be found in abundance in bone marrow, spleen and liver.

Is kala-azar a communicable disease?

​​​​​​​Overview: Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease spread by the bite of infected sand flies. There are different forms of leishmaniasis in people.

How is leishmaniasis diagnosed?

Leishmaniasis is diagnosed by detecting Leishmania parasites (or DNA) in tissue specimens—such as from skin lesions, for cutaneous leishmaniasis (see instructions), or from bone marrow, for visceral leishmaniasis (see note below)—via light-microscopic examination of stained slides, molecular methods, and specialized …

Is Leishmania causes sleeping sickness?

Sleeping sickness, chagas disease, leishmaniasis: A multitude of healthy carriers. Summary: Humans can tolerate the parasites responsible for the sleeping sickness, Chagas disease and leishmaniasis for many years. These parasites belong to the same family of pathogens known as trypanosomatids.

What is PKDL in kala-azar?

Post Kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) is a well-recognized complication of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) or kala-azar. It has been described since the beginning of the 20th century both in Asia and Africa, in areas where Leishmania donovani is the causative parasite.

What causes Chiclero ulcer?

Known as “Chiclero’s ulcer” in southeast Mexico and Latin America, this unique presentation of cutaneous leishmaniasis is caused mainly by the L. mexicana complex.

Why is kala-azar 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.

Why is kala-azar called dum dum fever?

The term “kala-azar” comes from India where it is the Hindi for black fever. The disease is also known as Indian leishmaniasis, visceral leishmaniasis, leishmania infection, black sickness, and black fever.

  • September 20, 2022