Leishmaniasis (Kala-Azar)

Ayurvedic Name: Kala Jwara

Alternative Names: Kala-Azar, Black Fever, Dum Dum Fever and Black Disease, Sand fly Disease, Espundia.

What is a Leishmaniasis?

Leishmaniasis is a infectious disease caused by parasites belonging to genus Leishmania and is generally transmitted by the bite of infected female Phlebotomus sand fly. Leishmania are tiny protozoa. Their parasitic life cycle includes the sand fly and an appropriate host. Humans are one of the most common hosts. Leishmania infection can cause skin disease (called cutaneous leishmaniasis). The incubation period is generally 2 to 6 months.

Kala-azar is most common in China & India (particularly Eastern and Northeastern states), along shores of the Mediterranean, North Africa, South America and other tropical and subtropical countries of the world. Leishmaniasis usually is more common in rural than urban areas, but it is found in the outskirts of some cities.

Leishmaniasis usually affects the natives when they are children, characterized by lesions of the reticulo-endothelial system. These lesions generally appear on the face, though they also have some lesions on their extremities.

Travelers of all ages are at risk for kala-azar if they live in or travel to leishmaniasis-endemic areas. In tourists, it commonly appears some months after their arrival in an endemic area, very few escape having lesions, but they seldom affect the same person above once.