Visceral leishmaniasis in Omani children: a review.

A retrospective study was undertaken of 33 children with visceral leishmaniasis admitted to Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH), Oman between 1993 and 1999. The aim was to study the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of visceral leishmaniasis in children in Oman. All presented with fever, anaemia and splenomegaly. Hepatomegaly and lymphadenopathy were present in 88% and 39% of children, respectively. All had iron deficiency anaemia. Hypertriglyceridaemia is a new observation. Diagnosis in all cases was confirmed by histological demonstration of Leishmania amastigotes in bone marrrow (32 subjects) or splenic aspirate (one subject). All children were treated with sodium stibogluconate, 14 needed blood transfusion or blood products and all but two responded well. There were two deaths from associated complications (6% mortality).