Abstract
Objective: To evaluate the existence of respiratory symptoms in pediatric patients with Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL), to identify tomographic changes and to associate respiratory symptoms and lung involvement. Methods: This is an observational study, with a quantitative approach and cross-sectional design not compared evaluating 22 patients with confirmed diagnosis of VL admitted to the pediatric ward of a university hospital, between January 2015 and July 2018. Users were investigated for symptoms through anamnesis and physical examination and were subsequently referred for X-ray and high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) of the chest. Results: The mean age was 6.9 years and the male gender predominated (59%). The frequency of respiratory manifestations was 27.3%. The most common respiratory symptom was cough (22.7%), 18.2% of the cases being productive and 4.5% being dry. The second respiratory symptom was tachypnea (9.1%). There was no evidence of chest pain or other respiratory symptoms. HRCT was considered altered in 50% of cases. No association was found between respiratory symptoms and tomographic changes. Conclusion: It is concluded that respiratory symptoms are frequent in children with VL, as well as pulmonary impairment demonstrated through tomographic changes.