Rare case of visceral leishmaniasis in Spain: Case report and literature review

Abstract

Introduction: Leishmaniasis comprises a complex of vector-borne infectious diseases caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania and remains among the most neglected diseases worldwide due to its high morbidity, mortality, and wide geographic distribution, being endemic in more than 98 countries, including Panama; Clinical forms and severity: Of the three main clinical forms, cutaneous leishmaniasis is the most common, whereas visceral leishmaniasis is the most severe, with mortality rates of up to 90% in untreated individuals, and is endemic in 13 countries in Latin America, excluding Panama; Epidemiological context: Although visceral leishmaniasis is an uncommon condition in some regions of the world, such as Spain, cases have been reported in countries neighboring Panama; Case presentation: We report a rare clinical case of visceral leishmaniasis diagnosed in a pediatric patient, detailing the clinical, diagnostic, therapeutic, and epidemiological aspects; Literature review: Relevant literature is reviewed to better understand the incidence and management of this disease in settings where its occurrence is more frequent, in contrast to countries such as Panama, where cases have not yet been reported.