Report of 40 cases of kale-azar from Kerman province

Visceral leishmaniasis is endemic in most parts of Kerman province. During eleven years, 40 patients in pediatric age group were admitted to the pediatric ward at the university hospital No.1 in Kerman. Fever and hepatosplenomegaly were the two most common clinical findings while leukopenia, thrombocytopenia and anemia were the most common laboratory findings, in 60℅ of cases the diagnosis was made by bone marrow aspiration and in 40℅ by response to treatment. All the patients were successfully treated using methylgluvamine antimoniate intramuscularly at the dose of 60 mg/ kg/ day for two weeks. We concluded that in dealing with prolonged fever and hepatosplenomegaly, kale-azar should be considered.