Visceral Leishmaniasis in a Child.
- Author:
Hyun Young KIM
1
;
Seung Eun JUNG
;
Kwi Won PARK
;
Woo Ki KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Surgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. pedsurg@plaza.snu.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
Visceral leishmaniasis;
Non-endemic areas;
Child
- MeSH:
Amphotericin B;
Antimony Sodium Gluconate;
Argentina;
Bilirubin;
Biopsy;
Blood Platelets;
Child*;
Female;
Fever;
Histiocytes;
Humans;
Korea;
Laparotomy;
Leishmania;
Leishmaniasis, Visceral*;
Lymph Nodes;
Magnetic Resonance Imaging;
Pancytopenia;
Psychodidae;
Purpura;
Spleen;
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
- From:Journal of the Korean Association of Pediatric Surgeons
2004;10(1):35-38
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
Visceral leishmaniasis is a life-threatening systemic infection caused by a protozoa of the genus leishmania and transmitted by sandfly. We report the first case of visceral leishmanaisis in Korea. The patient was a one-year-old girl admitted with the symptoms of fever, abdominal distension, pancytopenia, and purpura. She traveled to Argentina 5 months ago, and has had symptoms such as fever and pale appearance. Laboratory findings were: WBC, 12,680/mm3; Hg, 3.7g/dL; platelet, 100K; total bilirubin, 1.2mg/dL; AST/ALT, 48/10 U/L. CT scan and MRI showed hepato-splenomegaly. On laparotomy, excision of an accessory spleen and splenic hilar lymph nodes were performed. Many amastigotes were microscopically identified in histiocytes from the biopsy tissues. Sodium stibogluconate was administrated for 2 weeks, which did not relieve the symptoms. After administration of the additional Amphotericin B for 3 weeks, symptoms were improved.
