Factors of poor prognosis of visceral leishmaniasis among children under 12 years of age: A retrospective monocentric study in Belo Horizonte, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil, 2001-2005
Average age was 3.3 years (3.6 months-11.6 years), 71.2% were younger than 5 years and 47.2% lived in Metropolitan Area of Belo Horizonte. The mean fatality rate was 3.6%. Sixty-six (26.4%) patients presented poor evolution. After a multivariate analysis, age <18 months, abnormal respiratory physical examination on hospital admission, and platelets <85,000/mm³ remained associated with increased chance of poor evolution.
CONCLUSIONS:
The results suggest that patientsaged between 12 and 18 months, with platelet counts bellow 85,000/mm³, and respiratory abnormalities at admission should be considered potentially severe.