kala-azar

/'kɑ:lɑ:a:'zɑ:/

Thân thiện

A doctor examines a patient for signs of kala-azar.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • Visceral leishmaniasis: "kala-azar" is a severe, often fatal, infectious disease caused by protozoan parasites of the Leishmania genus. It is characterized by fever, weight loss, anemia, and enlargement of the spleen and liver. The term is primarily used in tropical and subtropical regions.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The patient was diagnosed with kala-azar after presenting with persistent fever and a swollen spleen.
  • Kala-azar is a major public health concern in parts of South Asia and East Africa.

Advanced Usage

• Medical Context: The term is used specifically in medical and epidemiological contexts to describe the visceral form of leishmaniasis. It is often contrasted with cutaneous leishmaniasis, which affects the skin.
  • The control program focuses on early detection and treatment of kala-azar to prevent outbreaks.

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 kala-azar (visceral), cutaneous, and mucocutaneous forms.

Synonyms

• Visceral leishmaniasis: The direct synonym.
• Black fever: An older, less common synonym referencing the characteristic darkening of the skin in some cases.

Notes on Meaning

• The reference context from the English-Vietnamese dictionary contains an inaccuracy. Kala-azar is not malaria ("bệnh sốt rét"). It is a distinct disease caused by a different parasite ( vs. for malaria) and transmitted by sandflies, not bedbugs or fleas. The provided definition from the English WordNet ("leishmaniasis of the viscera") is correct.

Học thuật

Noun

1. leishmaniasis of the viscera

Từ đồng nghĩa

• visceral leishmaniasis
• Assam fever
• dumdum fever