Clinical Features and Laboratory Findings of Visceral Leishmaniasis in Children Referred To Children Medical Center Hospital, Tehran, Iran during 2004-2011

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is one of the most important parasitic diseases endemic in northwestern and southern areas of Iran. The aim of the pre­sent study was to review the records of children hospitalized with VL in order to characterize the clinical features of children as well as laboratory finding in Chil­dren Medical Center Hospital, Tehran, Iran. The medical records of all children with a final diagnosis of VL were reviewed from 2004 to 2011. Demographic, clinical information, laboratory find­ing and treatment were considered. A total number of 34 children with confirmed VL through 2004-2011 were included in the study. The most prevalent sign and symptoms were fever (97.1%), pallor and weakness (97.1%), appetite loss (61.8%), splenomegaly (97.1%) and hepatomegaly (88.2%). The most frequent laboratory abnormalities were hematological including anemia (97.1%), thrombocytopenia (91.2%) and leukopenia (67.6%). Direct aggluti­nation test (DAT) was performed in 23 cases and all of them showed anti-Leishmania antibodies with titers of ≥ 1: 3200. In addition, 90% of patients had positive rK39 results. Identification of Leishmania in the aspirates of the bone marrow was found in 83.3% of patients. Regional surveillance system in order to monitoring of leishmania­sis trends as well as detection of new emerging foci is recommended.