Original Research Paper

To Evaluate Serum Potassium Level During Amphotericin - B Therapy In Visceral Leishmaniasis.

Abstract :

Visceral Leishmaniasis has existed in india among the plains of rivers Ganga and Brahamputra. This disease is mainly distributed in the eastern sector of country viz West Bengal, Bihar and Assam . The Incidence of Kalazar touched and all time low during 1958-64 mainly due to massive spraying of insecticides for Malaria Eradication. Since then the incidence has been steadily increasing . In the state of Bihar only 250000 cases were reported in DGHS Govt. of India (1992) Kalazar in India is caused by the Parasite leishmania donovani and transmitted by sandfly and the reservoir in our country is thought to be anthroponotic . Many drugs have been tried for the treatment of Visceral leishmaniasis viz. Antimonials, Pentamidine Amphotericin B, Ketoconazoal,Gold salt , Allopuronol,Gabreomycin Gama interferon etc. Sodium Antimony Gluconate is the treatment of choice . Unfortunately 25% Patients show unresponsiveness to stibogluconate . This can be either primary or secondary. WHO(TDR.December 1996) reported over 10,000 cases of visceral leishmaniasis only in the state of Bihar Pentamidine was used in these cases with great success . Although relapse have been reported that relatively high proportion of Patients with visceral leishmaniasis, failed to respond to Pentamidine in India , Kenya and China . The major disadvantage of Pentamidine is its serious adverse reaction .

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