title: Changing Epidemiology: A New Focus of Kala-azar at High-Altitude Garhwal Region of North India.
abstract: Adult cases of visceral leishmaniasis (VL), predominantly males, have been reported in the past decade from natives of high altitude areas of North Indian state of Uttarakhand. We report 14 pediatric cases of VL, who were diagnosed and treated successfully over the past 7 years. All these children were born and brought up in this area and had never visited any of the endemic areas. High prevalence of pallor, splenohepatomegaly, thrombocytopenia and poor association with HIV are cardinal features of VL in this region. Although newer drugs have become available, the protozoan continues to be sensitive to sodium stibogluconate. We conclude that the transmission cycle of VL has been established in this region and VL should be considered in the differential diagnosis of any child presenting with fever and hepatosplenomegaly. However, molecular and epidemiological studies are needed to identify the ancestry, vector and animal reservoir if any in this region.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences & SRH University, Doiwala, Dehradun 248140, India.
authors: Nowneet
authors: N
authors: Kumar Bhat
authors: Department of Medicine, Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences & SRH University, 248140, Doiwala, Dehradun 248140, India.
authors: Vivek
authors: V
authors: Ahuja
authors: Department of Medicine, Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences & SRH University, 248140, Doiwala, Dehradun 248140, India.
authors: Minakshi
authors: M
authors: Dhar
authors: Department of Medicine, Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences & SRH University, 248140, Doiwala, Dehradun 248140, India.
authors: Sohaib
authors: S
authors: Ahmad
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences & SRH University, Doiwala, Dehradun 248140, India.
authors: Neerul
authors: N
authors: Pandita
authors: Department of Pathology, Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences & SRH University, Doiwala, Dehradun 248140, India.
authors: Vibha
authors: V
authors: Gupta
authors: Department of Pathology, Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences & SRH University, Doiwala, Dehradun 248140, India.
authors: Smita
authors: S
authors: Chandra
mesh_terms: D000531:Altitude; D000967:Antimony Sodium Gluconate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006529:Hepatomegaly / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007893:Leishmania donovani / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology; D000072281:Lymphadenopathy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D010167:Pallor / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D013163:Splenomegaly / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D000967:Antimony Sodium Gluconate
keywords: North India; Uttarakhand; children; hemophagocytosis; kala-azar; visceral leishmaniasis