ASYMPTOMATIC VISCERAL LEISHMANIASIS IN A CHILD WITH ACUTE LYMPHOBLASTIC-LEUKEMIA

Visceral leishmaniasis was detected in a patient with acute lymphoblas tic leukaemia in remission, during maintenance therapy. Absence of fev er, a normal haemogram, normal serum globulins, a negative serology an d testicular involvement were the hallmarks of the case. Treatment wit h sodium stibogluconate (20 mg/kg for 55 days) failed. Subsequent ther apy with pentamidine resulted in complete parasite clearance. Prolonge d therapy with pentavalent antimony compounds or a higher dose of seco nd line drugs such as pentamidine are recommended for complete clearan ce.