Clinical features, diagnostic tools, and treatment regimens for visceral leishmaniasis in Bulgaria.
Pathog Glob Health
; 107(5): 260-6, 2013 Jul.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-23916335
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE:
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL), caused by the parasite Leishmania infantum, which was once largely confined to Southern Europe is now being diagnosed throughout Northern Europe, including Great Britain. In an effort to help EU clinicians improve their diagnosis and management of VL, this paper defines clinical features typical of the disease as it presents in Bulgaria, where VL is endemic.METHODS:
The list of clinical symptoms presented here was gleaned from the medical records (patient histories, epidemiological survey cards, laboratory data) of 59 Bulgarian patients with VL. This study also includes microscopic, serological, and molecular laboratory techniques.RESULTS:
Described and analyzed are the clinical features, diagnostic techniques, and therapeutic regimens of 59 cases--part of the total number of VL case histories (P = 120, 116 Bulgarian and 4 not Bulgarian) collected in Bulgaria over the past 24 years (1988-2011). Although all of the studied 59 cases presented with classical symptoms of VL, only in three occasions, the initial diagnosis was correct.CONCLUSIONS:
Left untreated, zooanthroponotic VL leads to debilitating chronic disease and even death. Yet, because VL is hard to recognize and relatively new to Northern Europe, misdiagnosis is common and treatment too often inappropriate and delayed.
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Contexto en salud:
2_ODS3
/
4_TD
/
7_ODS3_muertes_prevenibles_nacidos_ninos
Problema de salud:
2_enfermedades_transmissibles
/
2_muertes_prevenibles
/
4_leishmaniasis
/
7_infections
Asunto principal:
Leishmania infantum
/
Leishmaniasis Visceral
Tipo de estudio:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Observational_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Límite:
Adult
/
Aged
/
Child
/
Child, preschool
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
País/Región como asunto:
Europa
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Pathog Glob Health
Año:
2013
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Bulgaria