Clinical Characteristics and Response to Therapy in Egyptian Children Infected with Schistosoma haematobium

Abstract

Forty-one Egyptian students with infections due to Schistosoma haematobium, who were selected by results of a urine screening examination, were evaluated for morbidity and response to chemotherapy. Symptoms associated with infection were hematuria, dysuria, and swimmer's itch. A positive correlation existed between the intensity of infection and frequency of exposure to water. Laboratory abnormalities included eosinophilia (41), anemia (9), hematuria (38), pyuria (33), and proteinuria (8). Three of 26 subjects had abnormalities intravenous pyelograms: hydroureter, bladder polyp , and bladder calcification. The bladder polyp was noted also by sonography. Cure rates were 66.7% in 18 subjects treated with two 10-mg/kg doses of trichlorfon and were 89.5% in 19 subjects given three doses. Those not cured had an average reduction in ova excretion of 96%. Follow-up at 12 months of 33 subjects showed that nine had S. haematobium ova in urine, although 75% admitted to exposure to canal or irrigation water in the interim.

Assessment of Ultrasound Morbidity Indicators of Schistosomiasis in the Context of Large-Scale Programs Illustrated With Experiences From Malian Children

“…7 Ultrasonography is currently the diagnostic tool of choice for detecting pathologic conditions associated with schistosomiasis, such as dilatation of the renal pelvis, bladder wall lesions, liver fibrosis and enlargement, and dilatation of the portal vein. 8,9 For detection of infection with S. haematobium, ultrasonography is an established method for detecting urinary tract pathologic effects not only in the hospital setting, [10][11][12][13] but also in field-based studies, 14 with the advantage of being non-invasive, relatively simple to perform, well accepted by communities, and providing a direct image of the pathologic changes. 15 Additionally, ultrasonography provides sensitive and precise measurements of S. mansoni-associated pathologic changes 16,17 In the attempt to objectively define and categorize the pathologic changes associated with schistosomiasis and to standardize the different scoring systems used in the past in different disease-endemic areas, 18,19 successive ultra-sound consensus meetings were held in Niamey, Niger in 1996 and Belo Horizonte, Brazil in 1997.…”

Case 27-1998

“…2 The disease is endemic in Africa and Southwest Asia, but there was no history of travel outside the United States or evidence of prior acute schistosomiasis, such as fever, splenomegaly, lymphadenopathy, or urticaria. The radiographic studies did not demonstrate any calcifications in the urinary tract, which are characteristic of schistosomiasis.…”