title: Haematological profile of childhood visceral leishmaniasis.
abstract: Visceral leishmaniasis is the most severe form of the disease affecting children. Definite diagnosis relies on the demonstration of the parasite in various tissues. Bone marrow examination is a well accepted method, but has sensitivity between 60-85%. In the present study we analyzed other associated bone marrow features in 28 cases of pediatric leishmaniasis, which would help raise the suspicion level and thus bring about more positive results. Pancytopenia was observed in 54% cases and bicytopenias in another 20.5% cases. Peripheral absolute lymphocyte count did not increase in any case. Increase in plasma cells (mean 6.7%) and increase of phagocytic cells (28.5%) with haemophagocytosis (21.43%) was observed frequently in the bone marrow.
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh. sumitradash2001@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Sumitra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dash
authors.forename: Anshu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Awasthi
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Marwaha
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001856:Bone Marrow Examination; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006402:Hematologic Diseases / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male