Cerebral Schistosomiasis

Abstract

Schistosomiasis is a cutaneously acquired infection caused by trematodes (fla¬tworms from the phylum Platyhelminthes), due to swimming in contaminated waters. The central nervous system (CNS) schistosomiasis is a rare presen¬tation of the disease. Brain infection due to S. Mansoni has been rarely reported, in anedoctal fashion. It should be early recognized , since an available treatment may prevent neurological deterioration. A high index of sus¬picion is necessary, mainly in patients coming from endemic areas, with brain or spinal cord lesions associated with eosino¬philia and inflammatory CSF. The finding schistosoma eggs in stools or in a CNS biopsy confirms the diagnosis. We re¬port on a 35-year old brazilian man harboring an isolated brain infection due to S. mansoni.