CLINICO-HAEMATOLOGICAL PROFILE OF CHILDHOOD VISCERAL LEISHMANIASIS: A SINGLE-CENTER STUDY FROM ISLAMABAD

Authors

  • Sundas Ali Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad, Pakistan
  • Aliena Sohail Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad, Pakistan
  • Samina Amanat Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad, Pakistan
  • Asfa Zawar Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad, Pakistan
  • Shahzad Ali Jiskani Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad, Pakistan
  • Sara Jamal Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad, Pakistan

Abstract

Objective: This study describes the clinical and haematological features of childhood Visceral Leishmaniasis from Pakistan.

Materials and Methods: A total of 32 children, all below twelve years of age, with a confirmed diagnosis of Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) were included in this study. All cases presented to the Children Hospital, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) Islamabad, from January 2014 to December 2016. The diagnosis of VL was established by the demonstration of Leishmania Parasites in bone marrow aspiration. Demographic information, physical signs at presentation, results of complete blood count and findings on bone marrow aspiration were recorded. The relationship between lymphadenopathy and histiocyte prominence with peripheral blood counts was also determined. The data was analyzed on SPSS version 23.

Results: It was found that fever, pallor and abdominal distention were present in 100% of cases observed. Among the hematological features, pancytopenia in the peripheral blood was present in 20(62.5%) cases, histiocyte prominence in 19 (59.3%) cases and extracellular distribution of LD bodies in the bone marrow in 23(71.8%) cases. The values of peripheral blood counts were not significantly associated with the presence or absence of lymphadenopathy or increased Histiocytes in the bone marrow.

Conclusion: Children from endemic areas coming with features of pallor, fever, abdominal distension, and reduced peripheral counts should prompt the clinician to suspect Visceral Leishmaniasis and the pathologist to carefully search for the presence of LD bodies in the bone marrow, in order to aid in the early identification and treatment of this infection.

Key words: Visceral leishmaniasis, Clinical, Haematological.

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Published

30-10-2017

How to Cite

1.
Ali S, Sohail A, Amanat S, Zawar A, Jiskani SA, Jamal S. CLINICO-HAEMATOLOGICAL PROFILE OF CHILDHOOD VISCERAL LEISHMANIASIS: A SINGLE-CENTER STUDY FROM ISLAMABAD. Pak J Pathol [Internet]. 2017 Oct. 30 [cited 2024 Apr. 20];28(3). Available from: http://pakjpath.com/index.php/Pak-J-Pathol/article/view/412

Issue

Vol. 28 No. 3 (2017)

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2017 Sundas Ali, Aliena Sohail, Samina Amanat, Asfa Zawar, Shahzad Ali Jiskani, Sara Jamal

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