A retrospective study was performed with pediatric patients (≤14 years old) with a diagnosis of VL in Fortaleza, state of Ceara, in Northeast Brazil.
A total of 120 patients were included. The mean age was 5±3.9 years, and 53.4% were male. The main clinical manifestations at admission were: fever (94.2%), splenomegaly (94.2%), hepatomegaly (82.5%), anorexia (55%), malaise (47.5%), cough (41.6%), abdominal pain (27.5%), vomiting (25.5%), and diarrhea (16.6%). Acute kidney injury was found in 25% of the patients. The main complication during hospital stay was pulmonary infection, found in 27.5% (n=33), leading to sepsis in 3 cases. Glucantime® was the drug of choice in 90% (n=108) of the cases, amphotericin B in 7.5% (n=9) and AmBisome® in 2.5% (n=3). Death occurred in 4 cases (3.3%) due to sepsis (3 cases) and hemorrhagic complications (1 case).
Visceral leishmaniasis is a frequent infection among children in our region. The main complications were pulmonary infection and acute kidney injury related to antiparasitic therapy, along with sepsis and hemorrhage.
Keywords : visceral leishmaniasis, kala-azar, children, complications, mortality.