Linked Life Data

11132368

Source:http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/id/11132368

Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
5
pubmed:dateCreated
2000-12-29
pubmed:abstractText
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL), also known as kala-azar, is a vector-borne disease caused by a protozoan of the Leishmania donovani complex. A phlebotomine sandfly transmits the parasite from person to person or via an animal reservoir. VL is a severe, debilitating disease, characterized by prolonged fever, splenomegaly, hypergammaglobulinaemia and pancytopenia. Patients become gradually ill over a period of a few months, and nearly always die if untreated. Case-fatality ratios are high even in treated patients. Worldwide an estimated 500,000 VL cases occur each year. This study reviews clinical, epidemiological and public health aspects of the disease and shows how critical adequate case detection is for the success of VL control. Examination of the issue of VL diagnosis with respect to the global challenges in VL control leads to the observation that a sound diagnostic-therapeutic algorithm for the health services in endemic areas is badly needed. Serological tests could be an alternative to parasitological diagnosis and the direct agglutination test (DAT) was found to fulfil many criteria for a 'field test', including cost effectiveness. Although research needs on vaccine and better drugs continue to be high on the agenda, a VL test-treatment strategy based on currently available highly sensitive serological tests, such as the DAT, should be introduced in the health services in endemic areas.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:issn
0035-9203
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
94
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
465-71
pubmed:dateRevised
2005-11-16
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:articleTitle
Visceral leishmaniasis control: a public health perspective.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium. boelaert@itg.be
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Review