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Leishmaniasis (kala Azar): International Activity Report, 2007
Largely unknown in the developed world, leishmaniasis is a tropical, parasitic disease caused by one of over 20 varieties of Leishmania and transmitted by bites from certain types of sandflies. The most severe form, visceral leishmaniasis, is also known as kala azar, Hindi for black fever. Over 90 per cent of cases occur in Bangladesh, Brazil, India, Nepal and Sudan. Without treatment, this form of leishmaniasis is fatal in almost 100 per cent of cases.
Kala azar attacks the immune system, causing fever, weight loss, anaemia and an enlarged spleen. There are considerable problems with existing diagnostic tests, which are either invasive or potentially dangerous and require lab facilities and specialists not readily available in resource-poor settings. Treatment requires painful, daily injections of drugs for 30 days.
The drug most widely used to treat kala azar, sodium stibogluconate (SSG) was developed in the 1930s, is relatively expensive and causes a toxic reaction in some patients.
Co-infection of leishmaniasis and HIV is emerging as a growing threat, as both diseases attack and weaken the immune system. Infection with one of these diseases makes a person less resistant to the other and treatment becomes less effective. MSF through its Access to Essential Medicines campaign is urging for more research into suitable diagnostic techniques and affordable drugs to treat this neglected disease.
MSF treated 5,010 people for Leishmaniasis in 2006.
Largely unknown in the developed world, leishmaniasis is a tropical, parasitic disease caused by one of over 20 varieties of Leishmania and transmitted by bites from certain types of sandflies. The most severe form, visceral leishmaniasis, is also known as kala azar, Hindi for black fever. Over 90 per cent of cases occur in Bangladesh, Brazil, India, Nepal and Sudan. Without treatment, this form of leishmaniasis is fatal in almost 100 per cent of cases.
Kala azar attacks the immune system, causing fever, weight loss, anaemia and an enlarged spleen. There are considerable problems with existing diagnostic tests, which are either invasive or potentially dangerous and require lab facilities and specialists not readily available in resource-poor settings. Treatment requires painful, daily injections of drugs for 30 days.
The drug most widely used to treat kala azar, sodium stibogluconate (SSG) was developed in the 1930s, is relatively expensive and causes a toxic reaction in some patients.
Co-infection of leishmaniasis and HIV is emerging as a growing threat, as both diseases attack and weaken the immune system. Infection with one of these diseases makes a person less resistant to the other and treatment becomes less effective. MSF through its Access to Essential Medicines campaign is urging for more research into suitable diagnostic techniques and affordable drugs to treat this neglected disease.
MSF treated 5,010 people for Leishmaniasis in 2006.
