Genitourinary Schistosomiasis (Bilharziasis). Part 2: Clinical, Parasitologic, Immunologic, and Radiologic Diagnosis

Abstract

Clinical PictureAs described in Genitourinary Schistosomiasis (Bilharziasis) Part 1, the life of the Schistosoma haematobium begins in stagnant waters where the parasite lays its eggs. During the warm hours of the day the egg swells, ruptures, and releases a miracidium which then penetrates a specific species of snail, the Bulinus. Having penetrated the snail, it becomes a sporocyst and, by repeated budding, gives rise to a second generation of daughter sporocysts. Cercariae by the thousands are produced by the sporocysts and liberated from the snails. Unless these free-swimming cercariae can penetrate the skin or mucous membrane of a human host within seven days, they will die.Irritative dermatitis may result around the area of the cercariae's penetration.