1. What is kala-azar?
Kala-azar is a parasitic disease caused by infection with Leishmania protozoa that lives in humans or animals.
Kala-azar is contracted by the bite of sandflies.
From May to August every year, when sandflies inhale the blood of humans or animals infected by Leishmania, the protozoa will enter the sandfly's body, and when it bites a normal human body again, the protozoa will be injected into the normal human body, which can cause infection.
2. What are the symptoms of kala-azar?
Symptoms of kala-azar include long-term irregular fever, fatigue, night sweats, hepatosplenomegaly, anemia, and decreased immunity. A very small number of infected people have mild symptoms or even no symptoms at all.
3. Is there kala-azar in Shanxi?
Shanxi mainly occurs in Yangquan, Changzhi and Linfen areas. Canine-derived kala-azar is the main disease, and people of all ages may be infected, especially infants under two years of age.
4. Can I have medicine for kala-azar disease?
Yes, sodium antimony gluconate is preferred, and amphotericin B can be selected for those who are ineffective or contraindicated to antimony, and the recovery rate of patients is higher after standardized and regular**, and they will generally not be re-infected, and lifelong immunity can be obtained.
5. How to prevent kala-azar disease.
1.Manage the source of infection.
Detect the patient in a timely manner**.
Control of sick dogs: For example, dogs in endemic areas can promote the use of collars containing repellents.
2.Eradication of the media.
Spraying insecticides to kill sandflies in house corrals.
Use sandflies or anti-sthazzers frequently.
3.Strengthen personal protection.
Do not sleep outdoors to prevent sandfly bites.
Use window screens or mosquito nets.
Dimethyl phthalate (repellent) coating**.
Contributed by: Department of Geopathology.