Leishmaniasis

Ayurvedic Name: Kala Jwara

Alternative Names: Kala-Azar, Black Fever, Dum Dum Fever and Black Disease, Sand fly Disease, Espundia.

What is a Leishmaniasis?

Leshmaniasis

Leishmaniasis is a infectious disease caused by parasites belonging to genus Leishmania and is generally transmitted by the bite of infected female Phlebotomus sand fly. Leishmania are tiny protozoa. Their parasitic life cycle includes the sand fly and an appropriate host. Humans are one of the most common hosts. Leishmania infection can cause skin disease (called cutaneous leishmaniasis). The incubation period is generally 2 to 6 months.

Kala-azar is most common in China & India (particularly Eastern and Northeastern states), along shores of the Mediterranean, North Africa, South America and other tropical and subtropical countries of the world. Leishmaniasis usually is more common in rural than urban areas, but it is found in the outskirts of some cities.

Leishmaniasis usually affects the natives when they are children, characterized by lesions of the reticulo-endothelial system. These lesions generally appear on the face, though they also have some lesions on their extremities.

Travelers of all ages are at risk for kala-azar if they live in or travel to leishmaniasis-endemic areas. In tourists, it commonly appears some months after their arrival in an endemic area, very few escape having lesions, but they seldom affect the same person above once.

Leishmaniasis Causes - How Kala-Azar Spreads?

Ayurvedic Name: Kala Jwara

Alternative Names: Kala-Azar, Black Fever, Dum Dum Fever and Black Disease, Sand fly Disease, Espundia.

What are the causes of Kala-Azar?

Leishmaniasis, one of very known infection caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania. The most common clinical presentation is localized ulcer or nodule. The infection is spread by the bite of female sand flies, which usually get infected by first biting an infected person and then inject parasites called mastigotes into the bloodstream or skin of a healthy person. The parasite migrates to the bone marrow, spleen, and lymph nodes. In endemic areas, nonhuman mammalian species serve as reservoir hosts. These parasites then reproduce, causing the symptoms.

Kala-azar infection has been reported in all continents including almost 90 countries around the world, including all the tropical and sub tropical countries and southern Europe. The only continent in which this infection has not been seen is Australia. Kala-azar is present in Iraq and was contracted by a number of the troops involved in the 2003 invasion of that country and the subsequent occupation.

Since sand flies do not make noise when they fly, people may not realize they are present. Sand flies are very small and may be hard to see, so they can attack on anyone anytime. Of note, the bite of one infected sand fly is more than enough to cause the disease, since a sand fly can ingest more than 1000 parasites per bite. They are mostly seen during the twilight, evening, and night-time hours (from dusk to dawn), and are less seen during noon. Rarely, leishmaniasis is spread from a pregnant woman to her baby. Children are at greater risk than adults in endemic areas. Kala-Azar can be easily spread by blood transfusions or contaminated needles.

Leishmaniasis (Kala-Azar) occurs mainly in two forms:

* Visceral Leishmaniasis: a chronic wasting illness also known as kala azar.

* Cutaneous Leishmaniasis: a skin disorder which results in ulceration.

Both forms of Leishmaniasis are spread by different types of sand flies.

Leishmaniasis Signs and Symtoms

Ayurvedic Name: Kala Jwara

Alternative Names: Kala-Azar, Black Fever, Dum Dum Fever and Black Disease, Sand fly Disease, Espundia.

What are the symptoms of Leishmaniasis (Kala-Azar) ?

The symptoms of kala-azar vary from one person to other. However, some of the common symptoms include high undulating fever often with two or even three peaks within 24 hours and drenching sweats which can be malaria, Chills, rigors, weight loss, fatigue, poor appetite, cough, burning feet, insomnia, abdominal pain, joint pain, anorexia, epistaxis and diarrhea.

Leishmaniasis is mainly of two types:

• Cutaneous Leishmaniasis.
• Visceral Leishmaniasis.

Cutaneous Leishmaniasis - People suffering from cutaneous leishmaniasis, usually develop one or more skin sores (either painful or painless, with or without a scab). They normally develop after a period ranging from weeks to months after a person is bitten by an infected female sand fly. The sores can change in size and appearance over time. If you don't take proper care of these sores or don't treat them then these sores can last from weeks to years and often eventually develop raised edges and a central crater. Some people have swollen glands near the sores (for example, under the arm if the sores are on the arm or hand).

Some other rare symptoms include:

• Dizziness.
• Cough.
• Diarrhea.

Visceral Leishmaniasis - Visceral Leishmaniasis is the most severe form of leishmaniasis. These parasites usually migrate to the visceral organs such as liver, spleen and bone marrow. Children are more susceptible to this disease.

Its symptoms include:

• Patients usually have low blood counts, including a low red blood cell count (anemia), low white blood cell count (leukopenia), and low platelet count.
• Prolonged fever (But the fever is not constant, it is irregular. Onset is insidious or acute.)
• Progressive Emaciation.
• Weight loss.
• Progressive Anemia.
• Enlargement of the spleen (splenomegaly) and liver.
• Malaise.
• Hyper pigmented skin of the forehead, abdomen, hands, and feet in light-skinned persons.
• Occasional Bleeding.

These symptoms typically develop for months and sometimes for years, after a person becomes infected, and if left untreated then it may lead to fatal results.

Ayurvedic Medicines for Treatment of Leishmaniasis

Ayurvedic Name: Kala Jwara

Alternative Names: Kala-Azar, Black Fever, Dum Dum Fever and Black Disease, Sand fly Disease, Espundia.

Ayurvedic Medicine I

Ingredients:

• 60 mg Shuddha Nilanjan (antimony).
• 60 mg Mukta Bhasma.
• 120 mg Praval Bhasma.
• 120 mg Shuddha Swar nagairika.
• 120 mg Shankha Bhasma.

Directions:

Mix all of the above ingredients properly. Now you can take this mixture four times daily with honey.

Ayurvedic Medicine II

Ingredients:

• 60 mg Tamra Bhasma.
• 60 mg Yakritaplihodaradilauha.

Directions:

Mix all of the above ingredients properly. Now this mixture can be taken two times daily, usually at midday and at night with honey.