Kala Azar

Kala Azar is transmitted through the bites of infected female phlebotomine sandflies, which feed on blood to produce eggs. People with HIV are at a much higher risk of getting infected. It affects the poorest of the poor, being associated with malnutrition, population displacement, poor housing, a weak immune system, and lack of financial resources. Early diagnosis and effective prompt treatment reduces the prevalence of the disease and prevents disabilities and death. Vector control helps to reduce or interrupt transmission of disease by decreasing the number of sandflies.

Kala Azar is diagnosed by combining observations from a physical exam with parasitological or antibody-based diagnostics. Other approaches for visceral leishmaniasis diagnosis involve antibody detection using the rK39 rapid diagnostic test (RDT) and the alternative Direct Agglutination Test (DAT) to confirm infection.

Kala Azar is a treatable and curable disease, which requires an immunocompetent system because medicines will not get rid of the parasite from the body, thus the risk of relapse if immunosuppression occurs. A skin condition known as post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) may appear months or years after successful treatment for visceral leishmaniasis.