Back to Search Start Over

Pulmonary involvement in human visceral leishmaniasis: Clinical and tomographic evaluation.

Authors :
Bispo, Ana Jovina Barreto
Almeida, Maria Luiza Dória
de Almeida, Roque Pacheco
Bispo Neto, José
de Oliveira Brito, Allan Valadão
França, Camila Mendonça
Source :
PLoS ONE; 1/30/2020, Vol. 15 Issue 1, p1-12, 12p
Publication Year :
2020

Abstract

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a severe, systemic and potentially lethal parasitosis. The lung, like any other organ, can be affected in VL, and interstitial pneumonitis has been described in past decades. This research aimed to bring more recent knowledge about respiratory impairment in VL, characterizing pulmonary involvement through clinical, radiographic and tomographic evaluation. This is an observational, cross-sectional study that underwent clinical evaluation, radiography and high-resolution computed tomography of the chest in patients admitted with the diagnosis of VL in a university service in Northeast Brazil, from January 2015 to July 2018. The sample consisted of 42 patients. Computed tomography was considered abnormal in 59% of patients. Images compatible with pulmonary interstitial involvement were predominant (50%). The most observed respiratory symptom was cough (33.3%), followed by tachypnea (14.1%). Chest radiography was altered in only four patients. VL is a disease characterized by systemic involvement and broad spectrum of clinical manifestations. The respiratory symptoms and tomographic alterations found show that the involvement of respiratory system in VL deserves attention because it is more common than previously thought. Chest X-ray may not reveal this impairment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
19326203
Volume :
15
Issue :
1
Database :
Complementary Index
Journal :
PLoS ONE
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
141473944
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0228176