title: Clinical Features and Laboratory Findings of Visceral Leishmaniasis in Children Referred To Children Medical Center Hospital, Tehran, Iran during 2004-2011.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is one of the most important parasitic diseases endemic in northwestern and southern areas of Iran. The aim of the present study was to review the records of children hospitalized with VL in order to characterize the clinical features of children as well as laboratory finding in Children Medical Center Hospital, Tehran, Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  The medical records of all children with a final diagnosis of VL were reviewed from 2004 to 2011. Demographic, clinical information, laboratory finding and treatment were considered.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total number of 34 children with confirmed VL through 2004-2011 were included in the study. The most prevalent sign and symptoms were fever (97.1%), pallor and weakness (97.1%), appetite loss (61.8%), splenomegaly (97.1%) and hepatomegaly (88.2%). The most frequent laboratory abnormalities were hematological including anemia (97.1%), thrombocytopenia (91.2%) and leukopenia (67.6%). Direct agglutination test (DAT) was performed in 23 cases and all of them showed anti-Leishmania antibodies with titers of ≥ 1: 3200. In addition, 90% of patients had positive rK39 results. Identification of Leishmania in the aspirates of the bone marrow was found in 83.3% of patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Regional surveillance system in order to monitoring of leishmaniasis trends as well as detection of new emerging foci is recommended.
authors: Department of Infectious Disease, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Azam
authors: A
authors: Tofighi Naeem
authors: Pediatric Infectious Diseases Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Shima
authors: S
authors: Mahmoudi
authors: Department of Infectious Disease, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Farah
authors: F
authors: Saboui
authors: Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Homa
authors: H
authors: Hajjaran
authors: Pediatric Infectious Diseases Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Babak
authors: B
authors: Pourakbari
authors: Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Mehdi
authors: M
authors: Mohebali
authors: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Mohammad Reza
authors: MR
authors: Zarkesh
authors: Department of Infectious Disease, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran ; Pediatric Infectious Diseases Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Setareh
authors: S
authors: Mamishi
keywords: Children; Iran; Visceral leishmaniasis
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