BONE MARROW EXAMINATION IN VISCERAL LEISHMANIASES; A STUDY IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL.

Background: Visceral Leishmaniasis a vector borne parasitic disease is endemic in many parts of the world. It is a chronic febrile ailment caused by Leishmania Donovani (LD). More than three hundred million people living in the endemic areas are at high risk and fourteen million are living with the disease. The leishmaniasis is not endemic but sporadic in our state. Methods: This study was conducted over a period of 10 years in the department of Pathology and haematology, SKIMS Soura, focusing on the morphology of bone marrow aspirate and biopsy obtained from patients. The aspirate was smeared on glass slides, fixed with alcohol and stained with Giemsa stain. Bone marrow biopsy was fixed in formalin and stained with H&E Results : In our study we had total no of 9 patients as the disease is sporadic in our state.Male to female ratio was 2:1 with age range from 1 year old to 19 year old .and mean age of 10 years . Conclusion: Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy, although an invasive procedure, gives direct microscopic diagnosis of visceral Leishmaniasis and may be considered where indicated.