Acute fulminant visceral leishmaniasis in children--a report of two cases.

Kala-azar usually presents in older children and young adults with insidious onset of fever, splenomegaly and pancytopenia. Characteristic L.D. bodies in bone marrow or splenic aspirates are diagnostic of kala-azar. We report two cases of visceral leishmaniasis in children-1 1/2 and 10 year old with unusual presentation and fulminant course. In case 1 a female presented with fever, jaundice and bleeding manifestations. Peripheral smear revealed L.D. bodies in neutrophils as well as monocytes. The liver function tests were deranged. The child died within three days due to respiratory arrest. Case 2 was a boy who presented with fever and altered sensorium with deranged liver function tests. The patient expired within three days due to hepatic encephalopathy. Thus, it is important to consider the diagnosis of Kala-azar even when the presenting complaints are atypical and institute diagnostic and therapeutic measures early to prevent mortality.

Hemophagocytic syndrome in malaria and kala-azar.

Hemophagocytic syndrome is a clinicopathological entity characterized by systemic proliferation of cells of the monocyte-macrophage-histiocytic lineage associated with fever, cytopenias, hepatosplenomegaly, lymphadenopathy and coagulopathy. Two forms of the syndrome have been described-familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (FHL) of infants and reactive hemophagocytosis syndrome (RHS) encountered at any age. The underlying diseases are heterogenous which include, systemic lupus erythematosus and infections- bacterial, viral, fungal and parasitic. Mechanisms of RHS remain unclear, but cytokines may play a role. Risk factors associated with death are worsening anemia, thrombocytopenia during treatment, presence of DIC, and increase in serum ferritin and â-2 microglobulin and jaundice. We discuss the peripheral blood and bone marrow findings in 14 cases RHS with associated Kala-Azar (9 cases) and malaria (plasmodium vivax-2, plasmodium falciparum-3 cases). Three patients of Kala-azar expired- two due to hemorrhagic shock and one as a result of antimony related myocarditis.

Angiomyoma of the palate--a case report.

Leiomyomas are rare tumors of the palate amongst which angiomyomas are the commonest sub-type. Recurrence is rare and prognosis is excellent. Only a few case reports are available in literature. We report a case of angiomyoma of the palate presenting as an encapsulated swelling in the roof of the mouth.