Clinical aspects of paediatric visceral leishmaniasis in North-west Ethiopia.

Objective: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in north-west Ethiopia is causing an overwhelming case load among adult migrant workers that masked the disease burden in children. This study describes the clinical profile and explores comorbidities in paediatric VL patients.

Methods: A prospective study at two hospitals in this region (Gondar and Humera) was conducted in a year period, 2011-2012.

Risk factors for visceral Leishmaniasis among residents and migrants in Kafta-Humera, Ethiopia.

Background: Visceral leishmaniasis is a lethal parasitic disease transmitted by phlebotomine sand flies. The largest focus of VL in Ethiopia is located in the lowland region bordering Sudan, where the epidemiology is complicated by the presence of thousands of seasonal agricultural workers who live under precarious conditions.

Methodology/principal Findings: We conducted two parallel case-control studies to identify factors associated with VL risk in residents and migrants.