title: Integrated visceral leishmaniasis surveillance system in primary care for children in Meshkin-Shahr district, north-western Islamic Republic of Iran.
abstract: In 2001 a visceral leishmaniasis (VL) surveillance system was set up for children aged < or = 12 years in the primary health system in Meshkin-Shahr district of Ardebil province, north-western Islamic Republic of Iran. All cases with clinical signs and symptoms of VL and positive by the direct agglutination test were referred for physical examination and treatment. The mean annual incidence of VL decreased significantly from 1.88 before (1985-2000) to 0.77 per 1000 child population after the intervention (2001-07). In a control area with no surveillance, it increased from 0.11 to 0.23 per 1000. Early detection of VL using practical serological tests and timely treatment of cases could decrease the mortality and morbidity rates of VL in endemic areas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, National Institute of Health Research of Islamic Republic of Iran. mohebali@tums.ac.ir
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mohebali
authors.forename: Gh H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Edrissian
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Shirzadi
authors.forename: Gh
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hosseingholizadeh
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Pashaei
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ganji
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zarei
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kousha
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Akhoundi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hajjaran
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Malekafzali
mesh_terms: D000372:Agglutination Tests; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D018563:Disease Notification / Q000379:methods; D019353:Endemic Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000458:organization & administration; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000458:organization & administration*