kala-azar
noun
ka·la-azar
ˌkä-lə-ə-ˈzär 
ˌka-
: visceral leishmaniasis
In endemic areas, classic initial symptoms of kala-azar are fever and chills, which may persist for several weeks.—
Burton J. Bogitsh et al.
Burton J. Bogitsh et al.Examples of kala-azar in a Sentence
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Bangladesh made history in 2023 as the first country anywhere to eliminate kala-azar, otherwise known as visceral leishmaniasis, a disease transmitted by sand flies that is 95% fatal when left untreated.
—Charlie Campbell, TIME, 2 May 2024
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Charlie Campbell, TIME, 2 May 2024
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“Kala-azar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kala-azar. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
kala-azar
noun
: visceral leishmaniasis
The diagnosis of kala-azar (visceral leishmaniasis) was made by bone marrow examination in seven cases and by liver biopsy in one case.—The Journal of the American Medical Association
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