India, July 29 -- The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued major updates to its leishmaniasis treatment guidelines for eastern Africa and South-East Asia, recommending new regimens that significantly improve patient care. The new WHO guidelines, released today, are applicable for visceral leishmaniasis (VL, also called kala-azar), a deadly disease, and for post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL).

The updated guidelines include (i) alternative, shorter and safer treatment of primary VL in eastern Africa; (ii) new, shorter, effective and safer treatments for PKDL in eastern Africa and South-East Asia; and (iii) relapse management in immunocompetent VL patients in South-East Asia. Additionally, it updates the safety profile of milt...