The hunt for an elusive source of pyrexia in a foreign worker

Lew JWS, Koh CK, Selvan VS, Shen E
Correspondence: Dr VS Selvan, selvan_senthamil@alexhosp.com.sg

ABSTRACT
We report a 23-year-old Bangladeshi man who presented with fever and hepatosplenomegaly. The initial laboratory findings were bicytopenia with elevated serum globulins. The diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis (Kala Azar) was suspected. The parasite Leishmania donovani was found on bone marrow aspiration. He was treated with liposomal amphotericin B and had a good response to treatment. The case highlights the need to be aware of this disease occurring in a foreign national from an endemic region when he presents with fever and hepatosplenomegaly.

Keywords: Kala Azar, Leishmania donovani, parasitic infection, visceral leishmaniasis
Singapore Med J 2007; 48(4): e111–e113