SHORT COURSE ANTI-LEISHMANIA THERAPY IN CHILDREN WITH VISCERAL LEISHMANIASIS A. Karimi, A.V. Alborzi, M.R. Mahmodi, A.H. Rakhshani, M.R. Kadivar Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences , Shiraz, Iran ABSTRACT: Seventy-five patients with symptomatic kala-azar who had hepato-splenomegaly, fever, and evidence of disseminated intravascular coagulation or overt septicemia without jaundice were included in this study. They were randomized into three groups regardless of age, sex and weight. Patients in groups I, II and III were treated with 20 mg/kg/day meglumine (Glucantime) for one, two and three weeks, respectively after defervescence. All patients were followed for at least six months after discontinuation of medication. The complete treatment took 11.7 days in group I, 18 days in group II and 28 days in group III. The difference in relapse rate was not statistically significant among these three groups. We conclude that for treatment of kala-azar in Iran, a single deep intramuscular injection of 20 mg/kg/day Glucantime for seven days after defervescence is adequate. This therapeutic regimen is apparently superior to the conventional regimen regarding the cost-benefit issue and the length of hospitalization. Keywords: Leishmaniasis visceral, kala-azar, childhood, meglumine(Glucantime) Introduction Kala-azar, an infection of mononuclear phagocytes, is caused by Leishmania donavani and characterized by fever, hepatosplenomegaly, anemia and leukopenia along with marked hypergammaglobulinemia. 14 The disease occurs mainly in the rural areas and among nomadic tribes of Iran. Children under three years of age comprise around 90% of the cases. 1 Currently, Pentostam and meglumine (Glucantime) constitute the first line of treatment for visceral leishmaniasis. However, because of the differences in the sensitivity of the parasite, both the dosage and duration of treatment vary from country tocountry. 6,10,11 It has been shown that the organisms which survive chemotherapy are trapped by the immune system; a process which leads to a total disappearance of the parasites. In this study, we have compared the results of a short-term treatment with that of the conventional therapy.