Abdelmoula et al reported prognostic factors for a child with visceral leishmaniasis (VL). The authors are from Service de Pediatrie EPS la Tabta in Tunis.
Patient selection: child with visceral leishmaniasis
Prognostic factors:
(1) delay in visit > 56 days
(2) fever lasting > 21 days
(3) low or normal temperature (presumably without fever)
(4) hemorrhagic syndrome
(5) hemoglobin < 5.5 g/dL
(6) ESR < 25 mm in first hour
(7) serum albumin < 30 g/L
number of prognostic factors present =
= SUM(number of factors present)
Interpretation:
• minimum number: 0
• maximum number: 7 (6 in practice, since fever and normo/hypothermia usually do not coexist)
• A score >= 1 should prompt therapy (at the time of the paper, amphotericin B)
