Title |
Spleen nodules: a potential hallmark of Visceral Leishmaniasis in young children
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Published in |
BMC Infectious Diseases, December 2014
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DOI | 10.1186/s12879-014-0620-2 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Fraia Melchionda, Stefania Varani, Filomena Carfagnini, Tamara Belotti, Trentina Di Muccio, Roberto Tigani, Rosalba Bergamaschi, Andrea Pession |
Abstract |
BackgroundVisceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a severe disease caused by Leishmania infantum in the Mediterranean basin, and is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. Infantile VL may begin suddenly, with high fever and vomiting, or insidiously, with irregular daily fever, anorexia, and marked splenomegaly. Delays in diagnosis of VL are common, highlighting the need for increased awareness of clinicians for VL in endemic European countries.Case presentationWe report 4 cases of young children in northern Italy presenting with persistent fever of unknown origin and diagnosed with VL by serological and molecular methods. At the time of diagnosis, these patients showed an unusual echographic pattern characterized by multiple iso-hypoechoic nodules associated with splenomegaly.ConclusionWe suggest that detection of spleen nodules represents a signature of VL in infants, thus helping to diagnose systemic Leishmania infantum infection in children. |
X Demographics
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
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Unknown | 2 | 100% |
Demographic breakdown
Type | Count | As % |
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Practitioners (doctors, other healthcare professionals) | 1 | 50% |
Members of the public | 1 | 50% |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
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Brazil | 1 | 3% |
Unknown | 31 | 97% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
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Student > Bachelor | 6 | 19% |
Student > Ph. D. Student | 4 | 13% |
Researcher | 4 | 13% |
Student > Master | 3 | 9% |
Student > Doctoral Student | 2 | 6% |
Other | 3 | 9% |
Unknown | 10 | 31% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
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Medicine and Dentistry | 9 | 28% |
Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 3 | 9% |
Veterinary Science and Veterinary Medicine | 2 | 6% |
Nursing and Health Professions | 1 | 3% |
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 1 | 3% |
Other | 5 | 16% |
Unknown | 11 | 34% |