Clinical features and treatment outcomes of visceral leishmaniasis patients admitted to three centers in Oromia, Ethiopia

Samson Tekalign, Cherinet Adera, Margriet Den Boer, Hirpha Miecha, Ashenafi Zewde, Dagnachew Mulugeta, Tesfahun Bishawu, Weyuma Birru, Awoke Lema, Tilahun Sahlu, Fabiana Alves, Marcel Manzi, Kudakwashe Takarinda, Johan Van Griensven

Research output: Contribution to journalA1: Web of Science-articlepeer-review

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Abstract

INTRODUCTION: In three health care facilities in the Oromia region, the aim of this study is to report on 1) the number of VL cases registered over time (2013-2018) and 2) the clinical profile, type of treatment used and response to treatment.

METHODOLOGY: A retrospective cohort study was conducted among all VL cases admitted with a diagnosis of VL.

RESULTS: A total of 434 VL cases were registered at the three health facilities, but patient files were available for only 188. Most (51.6%) were children and only three presented with VL relapse. 78 (41.5%) of the 188 patients presented within one month of symptom onset. Concurrent severe acute malnutrition (27.1%), tuberculosis (6.4%) and malaria (6.4%) were common. There were only two cases with HIV coinfection. Fourty-three percent were treated with antimonials, 34% with antimonials combined with paromomycin and 23% with AmBisome. Amongst the 188 patients with patient files there were no deaths and one treatment failure. Six months outcome data were however missing for all. Aggregated data from the 434 VL cases reported three deaths, two treatment failures and one relapse.

CONCLUSIONS: Children were most commonly affected, suggesting long-term endemicity. While short-term outcomes are encouraging, long-term follow-up data are required.

Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Infection in Developing Countries
Volume14
Issue number6.1
Pages (from-to)42S-47S
Number of pages6
ISSN1972-2680
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2020

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