Objectives

To describe the epidemiology, clinical characteristics and treatment of children with visceral Leishmaniasis in Neiva- Huila, from April to June 2012.

Methodology

We performed a descriptive study of an outbreak of visceral leshmaniasis in children from the urban area of Neiva.

Results

There were seven cases in children younger than five years. All of them had prolonged fever, hepato-splenomegaly, severe anemia and leukopenia. Five were admitted with severe thrombocytopenia, without hemorrhagic manifestations. Six patients received first-line treatment with miltefosine, five of them had treatment failure requirirng therapy escalation to amphotericin B, two received liposomal amphotericin B and three deoxycholate amphotericin B. The main vector identified was the Lutzomyia gomezi and its main reservoir were canines.

Conclusion

We describe the first visceral leishmaniasis outbreak in children living in an urban area, with no mortality. Most of the cases had a good response to amphotericin B.