DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2021.v09i02.017

Pages: 260-266

Introduction: Kala-azar or visceral leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease caused by Leishmania of the L. donovani complex. The Indian term kala-azar for this disease denotes black sickness and also hyperpigmentation seen in those patients. Immunochromatographic test (rk39) for VL is a qualitative, membrane based immunoassay for the detection of antibodies to visceral leishmaniasis in human serum. Aim of the study: To evaluate the immunochromatographic test (ICT) and bone marrow aspiration test for the diagnosis of kala-azar in children. Material & Methods: This hospital based descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in all the Paediatric units of Rajshahi Medical College Hospital from the period of April 2006 - December 2007. A total of 70 suspected cases of kala-azar patients were included in this study. Forty six (46) patients were diagnosed as a case of kala-azar, 24 patients were other than kala-azar. All data were analyzed by using SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Science) software package for entry, classification, analysis and interpretation of results. Results: A total of 70 suspected case of Kala-azar (Fever more than two weeks, pallor, hepatosplenomegaly) patients were enrolled in this study. Among them 46 patients (65.71%) were diagnosed as a case of Kala-azar, 24 patients (34.29%) were other than kala-azar. Among the kala-azar patients, most affected age group was 5-10 years. Male and female ratio was 1.71:1.Bone marrow study for LD body and ICT strip test performed in all 70 suspected case of Kala-azar. Among them LD bodies were found in 29 patients (41.43%) and LD body was not found in 41 patients (58.57%). Among them 24 cases were diagnosed other than Kala-azar.Among the Kala-azar cases (46 patients) LD body was not found in 17 cases (36.96%). Among the suspected Kala-azar patients 43 patients (61.43%) were ICT positive, 27 patients (38.57%) were ICT negative. No patient of ‘other than Kala-azar’gave ICT positive result. ....................