Pediatric Leishmaniasis Follow-up

  • Author: Conjivaram Vidyashankar, MD, MRCP; Chief Editor: Russell W Steele, MD   more...
 
Updated: Aug 10, 2011
 

Further Outpatient Care

Monitor patients with leishmaniasis following treatment for relapse or recrudescence. Prescribe hematinics until hemoglobin levels return to within the reference range.

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Deterrence/Prevention

Personal protection using repellants and nets is an important aspect. In endemic areas, spraying with dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and other residual insecticides is effective in sandfly control.

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Complications

Bacterial pneumonia, septicemia, dysentery, tuberculosis, cancrum oris, and uncontrolled hemorrhage or its sequelae can occur as complications of leishmaniasis. These complications occur as a consequence of anemia, leucopenia, and thrombocytopenia.

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Prognosis

If untreated, death occurs within 2 years and is often caused by bacterial pneumonia, septicemia, dysentery, tuberculosis, cancrum oris, and uncontrolled hemorrhage or its sequelae.

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Patient Education

Education regarding preventing sandfly bites is the most important measure.

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Conjivaram Vidyashankar, MD, MRCP  Specialty Doctor Paediatrics, Stafford District General Hospital, Stafford, UK

Conjivaram Vidyashankar, MD, MRCP is a member of the following medical societies: European Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Indian Academy of Pediatrics, International AIDS Society, and Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Ruchir Agrawal, MD  Chief, Allergy and Immunology, Aurora Sheboygan Clinic

Ruchir Agrawal, MD, is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology, American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, and American Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Gary J Noel, MD  Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medical College; Attending Pediatrician, New York-Presbyterian Hospital

Gary J Noel, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Mary L Windle, PharmD  Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Martin Weisse, MD  Program Director, Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, West Virginia University

Martin Weisse, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Ambulatory Pediatric Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, and Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Robert W Tolan Jr, MD  Chief, Division of Allergy, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, The Children's Hospital at Saint Peter's University Hospital; Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Drexel University College of Medicine

Robert W Tolan Jr, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Medical Association, American Society for Microbiology, American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Infectious Diseases Society of America, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, Phi Beta Kappa, and Physicians for Social Responsibility

Disclosure: GlaxoSmithKline Honoraria Speaking and teaching; MedImmune Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Merck Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Sanofi Pasteur Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Baxter Healthcare Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Novartis Honoraria Speaking and teaching

Chief Editor

Russell W Steele, MD  Head, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Ochsner Children's Health Center; Clinical Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Tulane University School of Medicine

Russell W Steele, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Association of Immunologists, American Pediatric Society, American Society for Microbiology, Infectious Diseases Society of America, Louisiana State Medical Society, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, Society for Pediatric Research, and Southern Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

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Distribution map of visceral leishmaniasis.
Distribution map of cutaneous leishmaniasis.
Distribution map of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and leishmaniasis co-infection.
The predominant mode of transmission is the sandfly's bite.
Leishmania donovani is one of the main Leishmania species that infects humans.
 
 
 
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