title: [Study of 71 cases of visceral leishmaniasis diagnosed at the Mustapha University Hospital (Algiers) from 1998 to 2009].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The authors retrospectively studied the epidemiological, clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of 71 cases of visceral leishmaniasis from 1998 to 2009.
  
  
  METHODS
  The diagnosis was made by finding Leishmania amastigotes in bone marrows smears and/or by serology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most cases occur in winter (35.2%) and in spring (36.6%). The source areas are endemic ones located in the north of Algeria (74.6%) and more rarely arid or semi-arid climate areas (8.4%). 88.7% of patients are children. The sex ratio is 1.53. The clinical characteristics are: fever (77.4%), paleness (43.6%); splenomegaly (83%), hepatomegaly (57.7%). The biological anomalies are: anemia (56.3%), thrombocytopenia (33.8%), and leucopenia (28.1%). N-methylglucamine (Glucantime(®)) was most often prescribed (70.4%). Four deaths (5.6%) were recorded.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Visceral leishmaniasis remains a pediatric affection but does not spare adults.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie, CHU Mustapha, Place du 1er Mai, 16000 Alger, Algérie. houria.zait@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zait
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ferhani
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Achir
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hamrioui
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000462:Algeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D000818:Animals; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000469:parasitology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology; D004285:Dogs / Q000469:parasitology; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000469:parasitology; D018314:Leishmania infantum / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary; D008875:Middle Aged; D010691:Phlebotomus / Q000469:parasitology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D055815:Young Adult; D015047:Zoonoses
chemical_list: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents