Visceral leishmaniasis (kala-azar) as a cause of fever of unknown origin.

A patient with a rare cause of fever of unknown origin, visceral leishmaniasis (kala-azar), is reported. The diagnosis was made by exploratory laparotomy and splenectomy after diagnostic studies had failed to reveal the cause of the fever. The patient was cured with a 6-day course of therapy with Pentostam (sodium antimony gluconate). Visceral leishmaniasis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with obscure fever who have traveled in endemic areas.