Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease caused by bite of infected female sandfly. As per a report by Lancet, visceral leishmaniasis affects about 500,000 people world wide each year killing roughly 50,000 people. Although 2/3rd of patients of Leishmaniasis occur in South East Asia, Africa is said to be the next in focus and its prevalence is said to be increasing in Africa. There are already cases of HIV and Leishmaniasis co infection in Sudan and Ethiopia. With increased traveling of people between different countries and migration, there is no reason why infection cannot spread to other parts of Africa. Ignorance and lack of awareness about the disease leads to neglect in its diagnosis and treatment, which can be fatal for the affected person. For this reason DNID (Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative) Africa founded in Kenya in collaboration with other organizations from India, Brazil and Malaysia, have started focusing on Leishmaniasis, searching for cases and its effective treatment. Leishmaniasis is caused by a bite of sandfly of the genus phlebotomus. Human beings can be infected by about 21 of the 30 species that are infective to animals. After a sandfly bite, it may take months or even years for the disease to develop. A sore usually develops at the site of bite which may heal by forming a dirty looking scar. It may be associated with fever. This is the simplest form of the disease. The infection may become disseminated causing generalized skin lesions. Oral mucosa may get involved causing sores in the mouth. In immune depressed individuals, or those with severe untreated infection, the parasite may affect internal organs. This leads to enlargement of the liver and the spleen. Marked enlargement of the spleen can be confused with blood cancer or any other condition causing much enlargement of the spleen. The affected person develops anemia, enlargement of lymph nodes. There is gradual wasting and weakening of the body and the person can die due to damage to the internal organs. Diagnosis is established by demonstration of the stage of the parasite found in the human body, in the fluid aspirated from spleen, liver, lymph nodes or other affected parts. Treatment given in early stages is useful but in advanced stages of the disease, it may not reverse the extensive tissue destruction. Research is going on to find a vaccine which can prevent the disease. But it has not been successful so far. Thus it can be seen that it is better to prevent the development of this chronic devastating disease. Improving one’s immunity by a healthy and disciplined life style is very useful to prevent development of any illness including Leishmaniasis, even after exposure. Sandflies usually live in sandy areas devoid of shady tree. The term sandfly is also used loosely for horse flies also. But good hygiene in and around houses, in residential areas, proper disposal of garbage, all these measures can help to reduce the prevalence of insects and such diseases caused by them. –rachna212002@yahoo.co.uk
