The Most Common Clinical and Laboratory Findings in Hospitalized Children with Leishmaniosis in Imem Reza Hospital  Bojnourd during 1999-2007

The aim of this study was to identify the most common clinical manifestations, laboratory findings, and response to medications in children with visceral leishmaniosis in Imam Reza Hospital in Bojnourd.
The study was consisted of 30 patients who admitted to the pediatric ward of Imam Reza Hospital with leishmaniosis, since 1999 to 2007. Clinical manifestations, laboratory findings and response to medications were assessed retrospectively. The data were analyzed with the SPSS version 13 software.
Weight loss, lethargy, fever, hepatosplenomegaly and the symptoms of respiratory infections (cough, tachypnea and fever) were the most common clinical manifestations. Anemia, red blood cell reduction, decreased platelet count, lymphocytosis, leucopenia, high ESR and CRP levels, microcytosis, anisocytosis, hypocromia and reticulocytosis, were the most common laboratory finding. Despite of treatment, 7% mortality occurred in patients with this disease which is more than other reports from Iran. The prevalence of this disease in spring and winter is higher than fall and atumn.
Findings such as lymphocytosis, high ESR and CRP levels, reticulocytosis and living in rural areas can help to distinguish leishmaniosis from other differential diagnosis.