Journal of Tropical Diseases & Public Health

Abstract

Visceral Leishmaniasis: A Brazilian Perspective

Andréia Patrícia Gomes, Paulo Sérgio Balbino Miguel, Rodrigo Roger Vitorino, Marisa Dibbern Lopes Correia, Ronny Francisco de Souza, Rodrigo de Barros Freitas, Juliana Lopes Rangel Fietto, Luiz Alberto Santana, Mauro Geller and Rodrigo Siqueira-Batista

Objective: The scope of this paper is to present the main aspects related to the causative agent of visceral leishmaniasis and implications of this interaction with the human host, allowing the improvement of health care actions.
Methods: The paper was put together based on a literature review with a defined search strategy. To obtain the articles we consulted the Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO) and the U. S. National Library of Medicine (PubMed).
Results: The leishmaniases are a group of diseases that pose a serious public health problem in at least 88 countries, and are included among the six priority endemic diseases in the world, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In this scenario the visceral form stands out kala-azar (visceral leishmaniasis) which, despite its endemic nature, has been reported in different areas of Latin America associated with the process of expansion and urbanization, as well as the unchecked deforestation.
Conclusion: The importance of this discussion of the clinical and diagnostic aspects of VL relates particularly to delayed diagnosis of cases by professionals unfamiliar with the disease – which is becoming quite common due to the intense flow of people in the world resulting in the delayed initiation of therapy.