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Background: A large number of kala-azar cases from a particular village in Debigonj upazila of Panchaghar, a remote district of Bangladesh, led us to carry out the study of the situation. Materials & methods: This cross-sectional study was done among clinically screened people at the health camp in two days in Dararhat in Debigonj upazila of Panchaghar. Results: Around 700 people were screened at the health camp and 51 (7.2%) were suspected to have either Kala-azar or related disorders where 42 (82%) were rk-39 test positive. The disease was more prevalent among adult (59.6%) and children (23.8%) under the age of 10 years. However, there was no clear linear relationship between the prevalence of the disease and age group. Kala-azar occurred in both male and female, and its prevalence did not correlate significantly with income. A history of fever (73.8%) and splenomegaly (45.2%) was noted in most of the kala-azar cases. A significant number of PKDL (26.2%) cases were also found in that area. Conclusions: Since there are a significant proportion of PKDL cases, eradication will be very tough unless the health authority take adequate measure to identify and treat them properly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total of fifty consecutive cases of Kala-azar admitted in the medicine units of Rajshahi Medical College Hospital during the period from February 2006 to October 2006 were included in this study. The number of the patients clearly indicates that the burden of Kala-azar in this region is significant and expanding. Male to female ratio was 1.9:1. Fever (96%) and splenomegaly (100%) were the predominant features. Hepatomegaly was found in 82% of the cases. Other clinical manifestations were Hyperpigmentation (76%), weight loss (62%), pallor (60%), jaundice (10%), oedema (10%), cough (6%) and lymphadenopathy (4%). Fever of 75% cases subsided within one week of starting treatment. Weight of 89.6% cases increased after completion of treatment. After completion of treatment spleen size regressed in 95.8% cases and no LD (Leishmania donovani) body was seen in 46 (92%) patients splenic / bone marrow aspiration after completion of treatment. 2 (4%) patients remain LD body positive after completion of treatment and 2 (4%) patients died during treatment. Still sodium antimony gluconate (SAG) is very effective in the clinical and parasitologicaly confirmed Kala-azar patients. A combination of sand fly control, early detection and treatment of the patients is the best approach for controlling Kala-azar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]