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Use Of Miltefosine In The Treatment Of Visceral Leishmaniasis In Children At A Tertiary Care Hospital Of Karachi, Khadija Nuzhat Humayun, Taimur Saleem, Umair Khalid, Fyezah Jehan, Sajid Soofi

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Existing standard treatment options for visceral leishmaniasis are less than optimal. We report here the use of oral miltefosine in the treatment of two paediatric cases of visceral leishmaniasis at a tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. One patient came from Balochistan while the second patient was from Northern Pakistan. Both presented with a prolonged history of fever, massive hepatosplenomegaly, anaemia and thrombocytopenia. Visceral leishmaniasis was diagnosed with bone marrow studies. Amphotericin B was first started in the first patient; however severe hypokalaemia and allergic reaction occurred. Oral miltefosine was then administered. The child showed clinical improvement with regards to …