kala azar

A chronic and sometimes fatal bacterial disease caused by the bacterium Leishmania donovani (a haemoflagellate).

It is transmitted by sandflies in parts of Asia, Africa and South America. It particularly causes fever, enlargement of the liver and spleen, involves the bone marrow and lymph nodes, and causes fatigue and secondary infections.

Synonym: visceral leishmaniasis.

Origin: Hindi for black fever.

(12 Dec 1998)


Terms mentioned in text: chronic, fatal, bacterial, disease, bacterium, leishmania, sandflies, parts, asia, south, causes, fever, enlargement, liver, spleen, bone marrow, lymph nodes, fatigue, secondary, infections, visceral, leishmaniasis
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