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Leishmaniasis in children
Last reviewed: 05.07.2025
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Leishmaniasis in children is an acute and chronic protozoan disease of humans and animals caused by parasites from the flagellate class - leishmania, transmitted by blood-sucking insects - mosquitoes.
ICD-10 code
- 855.0 Visceral leishmaniasis.
- 855.1 Cutaneous leishmaniasis.
- 855.2 Mucocutaneous leishmaniasis
- B55.9 Leishmaniasis, unspecified.
Epidemiology of leishmaniasis in children
Leishmaniasis is a zoonotic disease with natural foci. Foci of the disease have been established in countries with a tropical climate, as well as in Central Asia, southern Kazakhstan and Transcaucasia.
The source of infection is dogs, jackals, rodents, foxes and other animals, as well as humans with leishmaniasis. The infection is transmitted by mosquitoes. Infection occurs at the time of a bite.
Susceptibility to visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis is very high. In endemic foci, most of the population gets sick in preschool age and acquires strong immunity. Repeated diseases are rare.
[ Causes of Leishmaniasis in Children
The pathogens belong to the protozoan type, flagellate class, trypanosomidae family and leishmania genus. In the human and animal organisms they are located intracellularly, in the form of immobile oval or round forms (amastigotes) measuring (2-6) x (2-3) µm, and in the body of the mosquito carrier and in cultures lanceolate mobile forms (promastigotes) measuring (10-20) x (5-6) µm with a long flagellum (10-15 µm) develop.
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