Visceral Leishmaniasis (Anew Approach in diagnosis )

This study is to investigate the Visceral Leishmaniasis among 85 suspected infants and young children admitted to AI-Khadhimiya Pediatric Hospital in Baghdad between January 1,2005 to August 31,2005 .For each patient, a medical history was obtained and a complete physical examination was performed by physicians . The serums of the suspected cases were primarily diagnosed by using a new ,simple diagnostic method based on detecting antibodies against the recombinant K 39 antigen by immunochromatographic format (Dipstick test). The positive cases were sent to the Central Health Laboratory in Baghdad to be confirmed by indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT)with special chart for notifying the patient s residency in details . The incidence of infection was (12%), most patients were from males and the majority of cases were from Baghdad .The study also showed the investigators evaluation for performance of the test and its sensitivity and specificity in different endemic areas which proved that the test is a new, simple ,and specific reliable diagnostic method and could be used for the primary diagnosis of endemic foci in remote areas which have poor access to health services .