title: Disseminated leishmaniasis in a four-year-old child in Yaoundé, Cameroon.
abstract: Leishmaniasis is a disease caused by a protozoan parasite of the genus leishmania with worldwide distribution and is transmitted to man by phlebotomine sand flies. The clinical presentation could range from a single cutaneous ulcer to disseminated leishmaniasis. We report the case of a four-year-old boy admitted to our hospital with ulcers, wasting, progressively distending abdomen, and fatigue evolving for about two months. On admission, he was febrile and pale, with diffuse oozing wet ulcers on the limbs and face, hepatosplenomegaly, and enlarged inguinal lymph nodes. The complete blood count revealed pancytopenia with low reticulocyte count, and serum protein electrophoresis showed hypoalbuminemia and hypergammaglobulinemia. Skin biopsy revealed amastigotes in phagocytic cells. The above findings suggested cutaneous and visceral localization of the leishmania; however, the parents absconded with the boy just when treatment was instituted, believing that the child was bewitched. The outcome is expected to be fatal visceral involvement.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Unit, Yaoundé Gynaeco-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital/Pediatric Department, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Evelyn Mungyeh
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Mah
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chiabi
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Atangana
authors.forename: Seraphin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nguefack
authors.forename: Awa H D
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Mbassi
authors.forename: Celestine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nzedjom
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tietche
authors.forename: Ekoe
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tetanye
mesh_terms: D002163:Cameroon; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007896:Leishmaniasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male