Summary
- Snail-borne parasitic infection caused by a trematode (fluke) acquired through exposure of skin to contaminated freshwater.
- Patients most commonly present with complications of chronic infection: genitourinary symptoms for Schistosoma haematobium and S intercalatum; intestinal and portal hypertension symptoms for S mansoni, S japonicum, S intercalatum, and S mekongi.
- Diagnosis is made by microscopic visualisation of eggs in stools or urine; supplemental approaches include serological testing or biopsy of affected tissues (rectum or bladder) for detection of parasite eggs.
- Praziquantel is the preferred treatment for all schistosome infections.
- Serious complications of chronic infection include anaemia, portal hypertension, genital disease, renal failure, seizures, spinal cord compression, and neoplasms.
Other related conditions
- Malaria infection
- Salmonellosis
- Leishmaniasis
- Cutaneous larva migrans
- Liver abscess
- Assessment of eosinophilia
- Assessment of splenomegaly
- Iron deficiency anaemia
- Anaemia of chronic disease
- Assessment of gross haematuria
- Failure to thrive
- Overview of dermatitis
- Bladder cancer
- Obstructive uropathy
- Glomerulonephritis
- Acute renal failure
- Cirrhosis
- Assessment of ascites
- Idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension
- Oesophageal varices
- Assessment of chronic diarrhoea
- Colonic polyps
- Colorectal cancer
- Crohn's disease
- Ulcerative colitis
- Large bowel obstruction
- Infertility in women
- Male factor infertility
- Cervicitis
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Pelvic inflammatory disease
- Generalised seizures
- Spinal cord compression
Last updated: Apr 25, 2013
