A Case Report of Leishmaniasis and HIV Co-Infection in Pernambuco, Brazil - Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a recurrent pathology in underdeveloped countries, being neglected among political bodies. Visceral leishmaniasis, known as Calazar, is due to the infection of the protozoan of the genus Leishmania and subspecies donovani. It has systemic involvement and chronic evolution in its host. Among the main manifestations are the most cited: prolonged fever, weight loss, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, hypergammaglobulinemia and pancytopenia. At the same time, the incidence of HIV/
aids is increasing progressively in the world, especially in poor countries such as Brazil, India and Sudan. In this way, it is not uncommon to find patients with both pathologies. As a consequence of immunosuppression, different clinical manifestations are observed, such as gastrointestinal and respiratory tract symptoms, which can often be confused as a consequence of HIV infection.
In view of the high prevalence of these diseases, in addition to being frequently associated, it is important to have knowledge of the clinical condition, in order to make the diagnosis early and propose appropriate therapy for the patient.