Deaths / year
25,000
GBD (indicative unless refreshed)
DALYs / year
1,300,000
GBD
Pathogen
Protozoa
Post-infectious
Post-infectious syndrome
Persistent symptoms
5-10% (ISC) -> 50-60% (E. Africa)
treated visceral leishmaniasis patients
Post-infectious syndrome & persistent symptoms
Whether a post-acute infection syndrome is documented and the literature proportion with persistent symptoms.
Documented post-infectious syndrome
Post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL)
5-10% (ISC) -> 50-60% (E. Africa)
persistent symptoms — of treated visceral leishmaniasis patients
Summary
Dermal sequela after apparently cured VL: 5-10% (up to 20%) in the Indian subcontinent over 2-3 yr; 50-60% in Sudan/East Africa within 0-12 mo.
Timeframe
months to years after VL cure
Evidence strength
strong
Classification
Post-infectious syndrome
Sources: Zijlstra 2003 Lancet Infect Dis; Ganguly 2015; WHO leishmaniasis
Therapeutic agents by stage
Vector control, prevention, acute treatment, and post-infectious care. Only agents with published evidence are shown by default.
Vector & transmission control
| Agent | Type | Status | Mechanism / role | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sandfly vector control (IRS, bed nets) | Vector control | Approved | Reduce Phlebotomus / Lutzomyia transmission | WHO leishmaniasis |
Acute phase
| Agent | Type | Status | Mechanism / role | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liposomal amphotericin B | Antiparasitic | Approved | First-line visceral leishmaniasis (South Asia, Africa) | WHO EML / standard of care |
| Miltefosine | Antiparasitic | Approved | Oral alkyl phospholipid for VL and CL | WHO EML / standard of care |
| Paromomycin | Antiparasitic | Approved | Aminoglycoside for VL (combination regimens) | WHO EML / standard of care |
| Pentavalent antimonials (meglumine antimoniate) | Antiparasitic | Approved | Historic first-line; resistance in parts of India | WHO EML / standard of care |
| Sodium stibogluconate | Antiparasitic | Approved | Pentavalent antimonial | WHO EML / standard of care |
Post-infectious phase
| Agent | Type | Status | Mechanism / role | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PKDL management (liposomal amphotericin B, miltefosine) | Antiparasitic | Approved | Post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis after VL cure | WHO; Zijlstra 2003 |
Associated drug targets (Open Targets): IGHG3, IGHG1, IGHV1-46, IGHV1-69, IGHV3-11, IGKV3-20
Burden: IHME GBD (indicative seed unless refreshed) · Therapeutics: curated WHO EML / SOC + Open Targets pipeline · Post-infectious data: curated peer-reviewed literature · Ontology: MONDO_0011989 · Updated 2026-07-10. Associations, not a diagnostic test.