1. A review of leishmaniasis in Eastern Africa
- Author
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Ngure, Peter, Kimutai, Albert, Tonui, Willy K., and Ng'ang'a, Zipporah W.
- Subjects
East Africa -- Health aspects ,Leishmaniasis -- Distribution ,Leishmaniasis -- Diagnosis ,Leishmaniasis -- Care and treatment ,Company distribution practices ,Health - Abstract
ObjectiveThe review presents the epidemiology of leishmaniases in the Eastern Africa region.MethodsWe searched Pub Med and MEDLINE with several key words--namely, 'leishmaniasis'; 'cutaneous', 'diffuse cutaneous', 'mucosal', and 'visceral leishmaniasis'; 'kala azar' and 'post kala azar dermal leishmaniasis'--for recent clinical and basic science articles related to leishmaniasis in countries in the Eastern Africa region.ResultsPoverty, wars, conflicts and migration have significantly aggravated leishmaniases in Eastern Africa. Of particular concern is the increasing incidence of Leishmania-HIV co-infection in Ethiopia where 20--40% of the persons affected by visceral leishmaniasis are HIV-co-infected. Sudan has the highest prevalence rate of post kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) in the world, a skin complication of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) that mainly afflicts children below age ten.ConclusionIn view of its spread to previously non-endemic areas and an increase in imported cases, leishmaniasis in Eastern Africa should be considered a health emergency. Keywords: Leishmaniasis | Cutaneous | Visceral | Eastern Africa, Leishmaniasis: The neglected disease Leishmaniasis, a disease caused by obligate intracellular and kinetoplastid protozoa of the genus Leishmania, is an old but largely unknown disease that afflicts the World's poorest [...]
- Published
- 2009