Τίτλος:
Visceral leishmaniasis during childhood in southern Greece
Γλώσσες Τεκμηρίου:
Αγγλικά
Περίληψη:
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.
Συγγραφείς:
Maltezou, HC
Siafas, C
Mavrikou, M
Spyridis, P and
Stavrinadis, C
Karpathios, T
Kafetzis, DA
Περιοδικό:
Clinical Infectious Diseases
Εκδότης:
University of Chicago Press
