Visceral leishmaniasis: Rapid response to AmBisome treatment

Abstract

There appears to be an increase in imported cases of visceral leishmaniasis in Northern Europe; many are children infected on holiday in the Mediterranean. Making the diagnosis in young children can be difficult especially when an adequate travel history is not obtained at presentation. Two infants with visceral leishmaniasis are presented who were initally felt to have alternative diagnoses and who subsequently responded dramatically to a short course of liposomal amphotericin B (AmBisome).