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Leishmaniasis - Symptom

Alternative Names

Kala-azar

Symptoms:

Systemic visceral infection in children usually begins suddenly with vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and cough. Adults usually have a fever for 2 weeks to 2 months, along with nonspecific symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, and loss of appetite. Weakness increases as the disease gets worse.

Other symptoms of systemic visceral leishmaniasis may include:

  • Cough (children)
  • Diarrhea (children)
  • Fever that persists for weeks; may come and go in cycles
  • Night sweats
  • Scaly, gray, dark, ashen skin
  • Thinning hair
  • Vague belly area (abdominal) discomfort
  • Vomiting (children)
  • Weight loss

Cutaneous leishmaniasis affects the skin and mucuous membranes. Symptoms may include:

  • Breathing difficulty
  • Skin sores (macule or papule)
  • Skin ulcer (forms at site of original sore); ulcer heals very slowly
  • Smaller lesions may form around the ulcer (satellite lesions)
  • Stuffy nose, runny nose, and nosebleeds
  • Swallowing difficulty
  • Ulcers and wearing away (erosion) of tissues on the mouth, tongue, gums, lips, nose, and inner nose

Signs and tests:

A physical exam may show signs of an enlarged spleen, liver, and lymph nodes. The patient may have a history of being bit by sandflies or being in an area known for leishmaniasis.

Tests that may be done to diagnose the condition include:

  • Biopsy of the spleen and culture to see if microorganisms grow
  • Bone marrow biopsy and culture to see if microorganisms grow
  • Direct agglutination assay
  • Indirect immunofluorescent antibody test
  • Lymph node biopsy and culture to see if microorganisms grow
  • Montenegro skin test
  • Skin biopsy

Other tests that may be done include:

  • Reviewed last on: 10/30/2007
  • David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Reithinger R. Cutaneous leishmaniasis. Lancet Infect Dis. Sep 2007; 7(9): 581-96.

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