Definition

Noun: * Visceral leishmaniasis: A severe, often fatal, tropical disease caused by infection with protozoan parasites of the Leishmania genus, transmitted by the bite of infected sandflies. The disease is characterized by systemic infection affecting internal organs.

Usage

• The term "kala azar" is a medical and epidemiological term used specifically to refer to the visceral form of leishmaniasis.
• It is often used in public health contexts, medical literature, and discussions about tropical diseases.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The region launched a campaign to eliminate kala azar.
  • Symptoms of kala azar include prolonged fever, weight loss, and enlargement of the spleen and liver.
  • Doctors confirmed the patient was suffering from kala azar.

Advanced Usage

• "Post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL)": A complication that can occur after treatment for visceral leishmaniasis, involving skin lesions.
  • Screening for post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis is an important part of the treatment follow-up.

Variants and Related Words

• Visceral leishmaniasis: The formal medical term synonymous with kala azar.
• Leishmaniasis: The broader category of diseases caused by parasites, which includes cutaneous (skin) and mucocutaneous (mucous membrane) forms in addition to the visceral form (kala azar).
• Dumdum fever: An older, less common synonym for kala azar.

Synonyms

• Visceral leishmaniasis
• Dumdum fever (archaic)

Notes

• "Kala azar" originates from Hindi and Urdu, meaning "black fever," referring to the characteristic darkening of the skin that can occur in some patients.
• It is classified as a neglected tropical disease (NTD).

Noun

1. sores resulting from a tropical infection by protozoa of the genus Leishmania which are spread by sandflies