Infantile visceral leishmaniasis: case report

Abstract

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is an infection caused by protozoa of the genus Leishmania tripanosomatídeos, the species are: Leishmania donovani and Leishmania infantum (known as Leishmania chagasi in South America). The VL is a severe parasitic disease with high morbidity and mortality worldwide. It is considered the most neglected tropical disease, in terms of the development of new medicines. Considered an important health problem throughout Brazil, mainly in the endemic area of Paracatu, MG. It affects mainly children under five years of age. Transmission occurs through the bite of female Lutzomyia longipalpis blood-feeding of vectors or L. cruzi infected by Leishmania (L.) chagasi. The clinical signs of VL vary according to the immune response of the host, and may take forms asymptomatic, oligosymptomatic metastases and the classical form; the main signs include fever, hepatosplenomegaly, weight loss and pancytopenia. Untreated individuals, malnourished children, individuals infected by HIV or in use of immunosuppressant drugs are risk groups, being that in these cases the VL presents high lethality. The diagnosis is made through demonstration of Leishmania in lymph node aspirates, bone marrow and spleen; through serology, or rapid test as the rK39, are widely used and present variable sensitivity. The treatment is performed with antimony pentavalents and liposomal amphotericin B or desoxycholate. There is no human vaccine; therefore the fight against vector is the best preventive measure. There is no human vaccine; therefore the fight against vector is the best preventive measure. We report one case of VL in children 04 years of age, natural and coming in Paracatu, MG.