Clinical and epidemiological aspects of visceral leishmaniasis in children up to 15 years of age in Alagoas, Brasil

In order to investigate epidemiological and clinical characteristics of visceral leishmaniasis in children up to 15 years old, a prospective study was carried out in Alagoas, Brasil from 1981 to 1995. Of the 530 diagnosed cases, predominantly from the rural area of Alagoas State, 58% were male and 4...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical 2004-07, Vol.37 (4), p.300-304
Main Authors: Pedrosa, Célia Maria Silva, da Rocha, Eliana Maria Mauricio
Format: Article
Language:eng ; por
Subjects:
Adolescent
Age Distribution
Animals
Brazil - epidemiology
Child
Child, Preschool
Endemic Diseases
Female
Hospitalization
Humans
Infant
Leishmaniasis, Visceral - diagnosis
Leishmaniasis, Visceral - drug therapy
Leishmaniasis, Visceral - epidemiology
Male
Prospective Studies
Sex Distribution
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Summary:In order to investigate epidemiological and clinical characteristics of visceral leishmaniasis in children up to 15 years old, a prospective study was carried out in Alagoas, Brasil from 1981 to 1995. Of the 530 diagnosed cases, predominantly from the rural area of Alagoas State, 58% were male and 42% female, being 55.3% children under 5 years old. The most frequently observed clinical manifestations were: hepatosplenomegaly, fever and parlor. The average size of the liver and the spleen of patients with shorter time of disease (or= 360 days). No matter the length of disease there was reduction of the liver and the spleen after treatment. However, the reduction of the spleen was higher in those patients with less time of sickness. With relation to liver that difference was not observed.
ISSN:0037-8682
1678-9849
DOI:10.1590/S0037-86822004000400003