Kala azar

Kala azar is also known as leishmaniasis and leishmaniosis. Kala azar causes from a tropical infection by protozoa of the genus Leishmania which are spread by sand flies. Kala-azar is a tropical disease which occurs in China, Africa, Southeast Asia, Southern Europe and parts of India, especially in Assam, Chennai and regions along the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers. The disease is probably caused by the bite of a small sand fly named phlebotomus which carries a minute protozoan parasite called leishmania donovani. It can also be introduced by merely crushing the sandfly on the skin.

Kala azar means "the black disease" so named because in many cases the skin takes on a peculiar grey color, especially on the feet, hands and abdomen. Kala azar is of two types: cutaneous and systemic or visceral. Systemic leishmaniasis (Kala-azar) presents as vomiting, diarrhea, chronic fever, cough, night sweats, scaly and dark skin, thinning hair, abdominal pain and weight loss. Cutaneous leishmaniasis (Kala-azar) affects mainly the skin and mucous membranes and presents as rash, ulcers, ulceration and erosion of mouth tissue, breathlessness, stuffy nose and nose bleeds, and swallowing difficulty. It is important to adopt appropriate protection and prevent exposure to sandfly bites.