High visceral leishmaniasis mortality rate in Barra Mansa, a new area of visceral leishmaniasis transmission in the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

• Published in: Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical Vol. 47; no. 4; pp. 521 - 523
• Main Authors: Pimentel, Maria Inês Fernandes, Alves, Elisabeth Larcher Maximiano, Silva, Maria Hercília Fiuza Farias da, Moza, Patrícia Gazenmüller, Almeida, Paula Maria Pereira de, Cunha, Cristiane Silveira, Mello, Cíntia Xavier de, Schubach, Armando de Oliveira
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Portuguese
• Published: Brazil Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical - SBMT 01.07.2014; Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT)
• Subjects: Adult; Brazil - epidemiology; Child, Preschool; Epidemiology; Female; Humans; Leishmaniasis, Visceral - mortality; Lethality; Male; Middle Aged; Risk Factors; Socioeconomic Factors; Therapy; TROPICAL MEDICINE; Visceral leishmaniasis; Young Adult; Brazil; Therapy; Lethality; Visceral leishmaniasis; Epidemiology
• ISSN: 0037-8682; 1678-9849; 1678-9849; 0037-8682
• DOI: 10.1590/0037-8682-0213-2013

Nine cases of visceral leishmaniasis occurred recently in Barra Mansa, State of Rio de Janeiro, with a high mortality rate. We reviewed the medical records of the patients. Eight were male; 7 were adults. Patients who died progressed to death quickly and presented with aggravating factors: systemic steroid therapy before diagnosis, bleeding, severe liver involvement, infection, and/or refusal to receive transfusion. We warn clinicians to be aware of the emergence of visceral leishmaniasis in new areas and to keep in mind the possibility of atypical clinical pictures and aggravating factors, so timely diagnosis can be made and prompt and adequate treatment can be initiated.