@article{3054016,
    title = "Visceral leishmaniasis during childhood in southern Greece",
    author = "Maltezou, HC and Siafas, C and Mavrikou, M and Spyridis, P and and Stavrinadis, C and Karpathios, T and Kafetzis, DA",
    journal = "Clinical Infectious Diseases",
    year = "2000",
    volume = "31",
    number = "5",
    pages = "1139-1143",
    publisher = "University of Chicago Press",
    issn = "1058-4838, 1537-6591",
    doi = "10.1086/317455",
    abstract = "Records were reviewed of 82 immunocompetent children (median age, 2.5
years) from southern Greece who were diagnosed with visceral
leishmaniasis from 1986 through 1998. Forty-nine (58%) patients
originated from the city of Athens; of them, 46 (94%) lived by hills
bordering the city. The median interval from the onset of symptoms to
admission was 10 days. Fever and splenomegaly were observed in >95% of
the patients. Thrombocytopenia was the most frequent hematological
finding (80%), All patients were treated with meglumine antimonate; 20
(24%) of them were partially treated on an outpatient basis. Rapid
clinical response was noted in all patients but one. Five patients
relapsed; 3 responded to reintroduction of meglumine antimonate, 1
responded to liposomal amphotericin B, and 1 underwent splenic artery
ligation. We conclude that pentavalent antimonials remain the first
choice of treatment for visceral leishmaniasis in immunocompetent
children in areas where resistance has not become a problem, It is
possible to treat affected patients with outpatient administration of
these agents, making them feasible options for therapy."
}