antimony-sodium-gluconate and Weight-Loss

In a comparative trial of treatment in southern Sudan, visceral leishmaniasis was diagnosed by the following symptoms: fever for > 1 month, splenomegaly, and antileishmanial direct agglutination test (DAT) titer of > or = 1:25,600. Patients (200) were randomized to receive sodium stibogluconate (Sbv) at 20 mg/kg/day for 30 days (groups S, n = 99) or Sbv at 20 mg/kg/day plus aminosidine at 15 mg/kg/day for 17 days (group AS, n = 101). Of 192 patients who had spleens or lymph nodes aspirated at entry, 134 (70%) were positive for parasites. During treatment, 7% in group S and 4% in group AS died. All 184 patients who completed treatment were clinically cured. At days 15-17, microscopy of aspirates showed that 57 (95%) of 60 in group AS were negative for parasites compared with 47 (81%) of 58 in group S (P = .018). At day 30, 57 (93.4%) of 61 group S aspirates were negative.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Antimony Sodium Gluconate; Child; Child, Preschool; Disease Outbreaks; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Giardiasis; Humans; Infant; Leishmaniasis, Visceral; Malaria; Male; Middle Aged; Nutrition Disorders; Paromomycin; Pregnancy; Sudan; Weight Loss

Visceral leishmaniasis is a zoonotic disease that can be transmitted from dogs to humans by a sand-fly vector. Endemic cases of visceral leishmaniasis among dogs in Oklahoma, Texas, and Ohio have been reported. Recent reports of visceral leishmaniasis in Foxhounds in the eastern coastal states has raised new concerns about the importance of this disease in the United States.

Topics: Animals; Antibodies, Protozoan; Antimony Sodium Gluconate; Antiprotozoal Agents; Blood Chemical Analysis; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.; Depression; Dog Diseases; Dogs; Erythrocyte Count; Fatal Outcome; Female; Hematocrit; Humans; Leishmania donovani; Leishmaniasis, Visceral; Leukocyte Count; Male; Maryland; Paraproteinemias; Platelet Count; Proteins; United States; Weight Loss; Zoonoses

Topics: Anorexia; Antimony Sodium Gluconate; Antiprotozoal Agents; Biopsy, Needle; Child; Diagnosis, Differential; Diagnostic Errors; Female; Fever; Humans; Leishmaniasis, Visceral; Lymphadenitis; Nepal; Weight Loss

Cutaneous South American leishmaniasis is caused by several species of leishmaniasis. Lack of appropriate treatment may lead to mucocutaneous leishmaniasis, mainly with L. b. braziliensis and L. b. panamensis.. To describe the clinical findings of Israeli travelers infected with cutaneous South American leishmaniasis and to draw attention to this problem.. Ten patients were interviewed, examined and treated.. Twenty-two lesions of cutaneous leishmaniasis were found, all in exposed areas. Patients were seen by an average three physicians (range 1-6) before the final diagnosis was confirmed by direct smear, after an average period of 125 days (range 88-270 days). Treatment with Pentostam was started after an average period of 134 days (range 94-275 days). All lesions healed completely, but with scarring.. Travelers to endemic areas, as well as physicians, should be instructed about the potential risks and the clinical manifestations of cutaneous and mucocutaneous South American leishmaniasis. Such awareness will prevent undue delay in diagnosis and treatment.

Topics: Adult; Animals; Antimony Sodium Gluconate; Antiprotozoal Agents; Female; Headache; Humans; Israel; Leg Ulcer; Leishmania mexicana; Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous; Liver; Liver Function Tests; Male; Meglumine; Meglumine Antimoniate; Muscle Weakness; Muscular Diseases; Organometallic Compounds; Pain; Retrospective Studies; Skin; South America; Travel; Weight Loss