Dumdum fever, also known as kala-azar, is a chronic and potentially deadly disease affecting the internal organs. It is caused by the parasite Leishmania donovani, which is transmitted through sandfly bites. This disease is prevalent in regions of Asia (especially India), Africa (mainly Sudan), and South America (notably Brazil), with about half a million cases annually. In Europe, primarily around the Mediterranean, there are several hundred cases each year, while North America records a few instances.The infection might present with minimal or no symptoms, but it typically leads to fever, loss of appetite, fatigue, and enlargement of the liver and lymph nodes, along with immune system suppression. It also raises the risk of secondary infections. Miltefosine is the first oral medication proven effective in treating this condition.The term "kala-azar," meaning black fever in Hindi, originates from India. The disease is also referred to as Indian leishmaniasis, leishmaniasis, black sickness, and black fever. The name "Leishmania donovani" honors British physician William Boog Leishman, who documented the disease-causing parasite in 1903, and researcher C. Donovan, who independently made the same discovery that year.
