[Mortality due to visceral leishmaniasis: clinical and laboratory characteristics].
BACKGROUND
Visceral leishmaniasis is a systemic infectious disease of broad geographical distribution, characterized by high potential for lethality. With the purpose of contributing towards reducing mortality and helping healthcare professionals in clinical management of patients with this disease, this paper aimed to investigate the clinical and laboratory characteristics of cases with a fatal outcome in hospitals in Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, between 2003 and 2008.


METHODS
Fifty-five medical files on patients who died due to visceral leishmaniasis were analyzed.


RESULTS
Among the 55 patients studied, 37 were from the municipality of Campo Grande; 41 (74.5%) were males; and age over 40 years predominated. The patients presented with fever in 89.1% of the cases. The duration of the illness from the onset of symptoms to hospitalization was 78.2 days on average. Leukopenia was seen in 85.5% of the patients. Comorbidities were present in 39 (70.9%) patients; malnutrition and alcoholism were the most frequent of these. Confirmation of the diagnosis occurred on average 6.7 days after admission. Pentavalent antimoniate was the drug most used, and 87.5% of the patients presented some type of adverse reaction. Bacterial infections occurred in 36 patients and were one of the causes of death in 27 (49%).


CONCLUSIONS
The data showed that early identification of these clinical and laboratory characteristics, at the time when patients are first attended, is extremely important for reducing mortality through instituting efficient therapeutic and prophylactic measures.
Oliveira
Janaina Michelle de
JM
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Doenças Infecciosas e Parasitárias, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, MS. janainamoliveira@gmail.com
Fernandes
Ana Claudia
AC
Dorval
Maria Elizabeth Cavalheiros
ME
Alves
Túlia Peixoto
TP
Fernandes
Thiago Dias
TD
Oshiro
Elisa Teruya
ET
Oliveira
Ana Lúcia Lyrio de
AL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality*; D008297:Male; D008536:Meglumine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077485:Meglumine Antimoniate; D008875:Middle Aged; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D008536:Meglumine; D000077485:Meglumine Antimoniate; D000666:Amphotericin B