The Clinical and Haematological Response to Treatment in Children With Kala Azar.

Abstract

This is a prospective study of eighteen cni Idr-e n with kala azar (Visceral- Le ishmanias is) seen at the Kenyatta National Hospital~ Nairobi. The clinical and haematological data before and for each week during treatment is presented and discussed. Sixteen patients were given the standard dose of pentostam. The treatment was continued daily without interruption until the patients were parasitologically_ negative on splenic aspirates. Only one out of these sixteen patients failed to respond after twelve weeks of pentostam. Two patients known to be resistant to pentostam were treated with a combination of pentostam and allopurinol. From this study~ it is apparent that patients respond differently to treatment with pentostam. The duration of treatment ranged from four to eleven weeks. Each case of kala azar should therefore be viewed on its own merits as far as duration of treatment is concerned ~. Complete .cur e can only be determined with time~ it is recommended that patients should I be closely followed up after discharge from hospital.