Leishmaniasis, Visceral (also known as Visceral Leishmaniasis, Kala-Azar): A chronic disease caused by LEISHMANIA DONOVANI and transmitted by the bite of several sandflies of the genera Phlebotomus and Lutzomyia. It is commonly characterized by fever, chills, vomiting, anemia, hepatosplenomegaly, leukopenia, hypergamma

NIH MeSH · D007898Diseases

Leishmaniasis, Visceral

Also known asVisceral Leishmaniasis · Kala-Azar · Kala Azar · Black Fever · Fever, Black

Definition

A chronic disease caused by LEISHMANIA DONOVANI and transmitted by the bite of several sandflies of the genera Phlebotomus and Lutzomyia. It is commonly characterized by fever, chills, vomiting, anemia, hepatosplenomegaly, leukopenia, hypergammaglobulinemia, emaciation, and an earth-gray color of the skin. The disease is classified into three main types according to geographic distribution: Indian, Mediterranean (or infantile), and African.

MeSH classification

  • C01.610.752.300.500.510
  • C01.920.813.510

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Common questions about Leishmaniasis, Visceral

What does Leishmaniasis, Visceral mean in medicine?
A chronic disease caused by LEISHMANIA DONOVANI and transmitted by the bite of several sandflies of the genera Phlebotomus and Lutzomyia. It is commonly characterized by fever, chills, vomiting, anemia, hepatosplenomegaly, leukopenia, hypergammaglobulinemia, emaciation, and an earth-gray color of the skin. The disease is classified into three main types according to geographic distribution: Indian, Mediterranean (or infantile), and African. This definition is taken from the National Library of Medicine's MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) 2026 release, which is the standard vocabulary used to index PubMed and most medical literature.
Is Leishmaniasis, Visceral known by any other names?
Yes. Leishmaniasis, Visceral is also referred to as Visceral Leishmaniasis, Kala-Azar, Kala Azar, Black Fever in different clinical, research and patient-facing contexts. The MeSH descriptor groups all of these synonyms under a single canonical concept so research and records stay consistent.
Where does Leishmaniasis, Visceral sit in the medical classification?
Leishmaniasis, Visceral falls under the broader medical category "Diseases" in the MeSH hierarchy (tree numbers: C01.610.752.300.500.510, C01.920.813.510). Browsing the related concepts on this page takes you to neighbouring topics in the same branch of medicine.
Where can I get a plain-language explanation of Leishmaniasis, Visceral?
For a plain-language explanation of Leishmaniasis, Visceral - including symptoms, treatments and what it means for an Indian patient - ask GoDavaii's Health AI. It works in 22+ Indian languages, is free and needs no signup. Tap "Ask GoDavaii AI about Leishmaniasis, Visceral" above.

Source: NIH MeSH 2026 (D007898) — National Library of Medicine, public domain. View official MeSH record ↗