title: Epidemiological characteristics of sixty five cases of Kala-azar attending to a laboratory in Mymensingh.
abstract: To find out the epidemiological characteristics of the patients with Kala-azar attending to a pathology laboratory at Mymensingh we studied retrospectively in a total of 65 patients. These patients were suspected to be Kala-azar as they were suffering from usually chronic fever, anaemia and splenomegaly. They were referred for serological detection of anti-k39 Leishmanial antibody by Immunochromatographic test (ICT) method. ICT positive cases were included for study. Majority cases were suffering from fever of more than 3 months (40%). Out of 65 patients 43 (66.15%) were males and 22 (33.85%) were females with a M:F ratio 2:1. Patients of 10 or less then 10 years of age were 17 (26.15%), in 11-20 years 23 (35.38%), in 21-30 years 13 (20.00%), in 31-40 years 5 (7.69%), in 41-50 years (6.15%) and in more than 50 years 3 (4.62%). Distribution of patients in different districts were: Mymensingh 54 (83.08%), Tangail 5 (7.69%), Jamalpur (4.62%), Netrokona 1 (1.54%) and Kishorgonj 1 (1.54%). In Mymensingh district patients were distributed as following Upazilla:Trishal 22 (40.74%), Fulbaria 11 (20.37%), Mymensingh Sadar 7 (12.96%), Gaforgaon 7 (12.96%),Bhaluka 5 (9.96%), Fulpur 1 (1.85%) and Nandail 1 (1.85%). Patients were found to scattered among different Unions of the affected Upazillas. The details addresses of the Kala-azar patients are recorded in authors computer databases. This may help in the further study regarding pathogenesis, reservoir and vectors of Leishmania in endemic areas. It may also helps in the community based study of Kala-azar. Present study supports that Kala-azar is still prevailing in the south-western region of greater Mymensingh in Bangladesh of which males and the adolescents are more affected.
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor (CC), Department of Pathology, Mymensingh Medical College, Mymensingh, Bangladesh. sadequel@bttb.net.bd
authors.forename: S I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Talukder
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Huq
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rahman
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Haque
authors.forename: C B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Sarker
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Ali
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001459:Bangladesh / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies