Visceral Leishmaniasis in Children in Southern Turkey: Evaluation of Clinical and Laboratory Findings and Liposomal Amphotericin B Treatment
Journal Title: The Journal of Pediatric Research - Year 2019, Vol 6, Issue 2
Abstract
Aim: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a systemic infection that spreads hematogenously and affects the reticuloendothelial system by the infection of macrophages. VL occurs commonly in children, and only rarely in adults. VL should be considered in patients with prolonged high fever, hepatosplenomegaly, pancytopenia, weight loss, pallor and hypergammaglobulinemia. Materials and Methods: In this study, a total of 18 pediatric patients -9 (50%) males and 9 (50%) females- treated for VL at our clinic from January 2004 to July 2014 were analyzed retrospectively. Average time from symptom onset to hospital admission was 64±21 days (range: 30-100 days). The mean age of patients was 88±40 months (range: 36-182 months). Results: The most common symptom at presentation was fever (88.9%). Other common symptoms were fatigue, chills, weight loss and anorexia. Physical examination revealed splenomegaly and hepatomegaly in all patients. Anemia (92.4%), leukopenia (78.7%) and thrombocytopenia (76.2%) were the most prominent laboratory abnormalities and 82.2% of the patients were pancytopenic on admission. Bone marrow smear was positive for leishmania in 100% of the patients. All patients received treatment with liposomal amphotericin B. Conclusion: In certain regions, increased humidity rates associated with construction of dams and irrigation canals may lead to changes in the ecological balance and thus cause an increase in the population of disease-spreading vectors. Additionally, recent migration from the middle-eastern region to western parts of the world due to regional civil wars may have contributed to the observed increase in the incidence of various diseases such as VL.
Authors and Affiliations
Barbaros Şahin Karagün, Özlem Özgür, İlgen Şaşmaz, Bülent Antmen, Emine Kocabaş, Emre Alhan
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP49046
- DOI 10.4274/jpr.galenos.2018.72621
- Views 322
- Downloads 0
Blood Pressure Percentiles in Turkish Children and Adolescents
Aim: Pediatric hypertension, a public health concern, is now commonly known worldwide to be an early risk factor for cardiovascular and renal morbidity and mortality. Early detection of hypertension is of the utmost impo...
Pediatric Pain Management Knowledge Scale for Nursing Students: Assessment of the Psychometric Properties
Aim: This study was designed to determine the psychometric properties of the scale developed to evaluate the pediatric pain management knowledge (PPMK) and the skills of nursing students. Materials and Methods: This is...
Relationships between Vitamin B12, Folate Levels and Clinical Features in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified
Aim: In this study, we aimed to compare the levels of vitamin B12 and folate in children with Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified (...
Single Versus Multiple Doses of Surfactant Treatment in Preterm Infants
Aim: Exogenous surfactant may be needed not only for Respiratory Distress syndrome (RDS) treatment; but also, in the management of other pulmonary diseases of infants. In this study, we aimed to investigate the impact of...
The Effect of a Nurse Education Program on Infiltration and Extravasation in Pediatric Patients at a University Hospital
Aim: Prevention of infiltration/extravasation (I/E) in pediatric patients is important. This study has examined the effect of an education program, which aims to prevent and manage pediatric I/E, on I/E rates in pediatri...