Neuropathy is an uncommon and perhaps underappreciated complication of visceral leishmaniasis.
Neurologic findings may include:
(1) peripheral neuropathy which may present as burning feet or foot drop
(2) cranial nerve palsy
(3) sensoineural deafness
(4) Guillain-Barre syndrome
Key diagnostic features:
(1) presence of visceral leishmaniasis
(2) presence of neurologic finding
(3) absence of an alternative explanation
(4) reversal of neurologic finding with therapy for the leishmaniasis
Sometimes the visceral leishmaniasis is not recognized until after the patient presents with the neuropathy.
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Specialty: Infectious Diseases
