Study of kala azar among children admitted to Tikrit Teaching Hospital in 2004 and 2005

Abstract

Kala azar is a zoonotic infection which characterized by fever, lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly and signs of bone marrow suppression. There is significant morbidity and mortality if left untreated. The current study is a retrospective one carried out in Tikrit Teaching Hospital with study of records of 112 seropositive patients for kala azar in 2004 and 69 patients in 2005. The current work aimed to study the relation between kala azar and patient's gender, residence, and age as well as the seasonal variation of affection. Males are affected slightly higher than females in both years. District of Tuz showed the higher number of cases in 2004, while in
2005 district of Tikrit has shown the higher number of cases. High rate of affection was noted in January in 2004, while in 2005 the high rate of affection was noted in August followed by December. In 2004, the age group >lyr-2yr showed high number cases in comparison with other age groups.