What is kala-azar in simple words?

kala-azar. / (ˌkɑːləəˈzɑː) / noun. a tropical infectious disease caused by the protozoan Leishmania donovani in the liver, spleen, etc, characterized by fever and weight loss; visceral leishmaniasis.

Why leishmaniasis is called kala-azar?

Skin – Dry, thin and scaly and hair may be lost. Light colored person show grayish discoloration of the skin of hands, feet, abdomen and face which gives the Indian name Kala-Azar meaning “Black fever”. Splenomegaly – spleen enlarges rapidly to massive enlargement, usually soft and non-tender.

Why kala-azar is called black disease?

The blackening of the skin that gave the disease its common name in India does not appear in most strains of the disease, and the other symptoms are very easy to mistake for those of malaria. Misdiagnosis is dangerous, as without proper treatment the mortality rate for kala-azar is close to 100%.

How is kala-azar diagnosis?

Serology test – this standard test for kala-azar is based on relative sensitivity; specificity and feasibility include Direct Agglutination test (DAT), rk39 dipstick, and ELISA. All these tests detect IgG antibodies that are long-lasting. The aldehyde test is a non-specific test.

What is the main cause of kala-azar?

Leishmaniasis is caused by a protozoa parasite from over 20 Leishmania species. Over 90 sandfly species are known to transmit Leishmania parasites. There are 3 main forms of the disease: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL), also known as kala-azar is fatal if left untreated in over 95% of cases.

Who discovered kala-azar?

Kala-azar was a lethal disease in colonial India. Charles Donovan of the Indian Medical Service (IMS) in Madras discovered the parasite independently in 1903 while William Boog Leishman was carrying out his research in Great Britain.

Which protozoan causes kala-azar?

Leishmania species
Leishmaniasis is caused by a protozoa parasite from over 20 Leishmania species. Over 90 sandfly species are known to transmit Leishmania parasites. There are 3 main forms of the disease: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL), also known as kala-azar is fatal if left untreated in over 95% of cases.

What are the main causes of kala-azar?

What are the preventive measures of kala-azar?

How can I prevent leishmaniasis?

  • Wear clothing that covers as much skin as possible.
  • Use insect repellent on any exposed skin and on the ends of your pants and sleeves.
  • Spray indoor sleeping areas with insecticide.
  • Sleep on the higher floors of a building.
  • Avoid the outdoors between dusk and dawn.

What are the agents of kala-azar?

Kala azar is caused by bites from female phlebotomine sandflies—the vector (or transmitter) of the leishmania parasite. The sand flies feed on animals and humans for blood, which they need for developing their eggs.

Is kala-azar a communicable disease?

​​​​​​​Overview: Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease spread by the bite of infected sand flies. There are different forms of leishmaniasis in people.

Which organ is affects by kala-azar?

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL), also known as kala-azar is fatal if left untreated in over 95% of cases. It is characterized by irregular bouts of fever, weight loss, enlargement of the spleen and liver, and anaemia. Most cases occur in Brazil, East Africa and in India.