Schistosomiasis in non-endemic countriesSchistosomiasis is one of the major parasitic diseases of the tropics, causing acute and long-term clinical syndromes. Almost all schistosomiasis is now imported from subSaharan Africa. This article summarises the aetiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis and management of schistosomiaisis for clinicians in non-endemic countries.Schistosomiasis (also known as bilharzia) is one of the major parasitic diseases of the tropics, with more than 240 million people in over 70 countries infected. 1 90% of these cases are in sub-Saharan Africa and almost all schistosomiasis seen in the UK is now imported from there. Rare cases are still imported from Asia and Latin America, although the incidence in these continents is reducing as a result of successful schistosomiasis control programmes, most notably in China.Schistosomiasis infection in returning travellers is one of the most common imported tropical infections with potentially serious acute and long-term complications. These complications are preventable if infection is identified early and treated. This article is written for clinicians in non-endemic countries where patients generally have light infections, and summarises the epidemiology, transmission, clinical features, diagnosis and management of schistosomiasis
Transmission/life cycleThe life cycle of the schistosomiasis fl uke is shown in Fig 1. Schistosomiasis infection invariably comes from contact with fresh water, usually by swimming or washing. Travellers may not remember their freshwater contact, so this is not a reliable screening question; in asymptomatic travellers from Africa, up to 11% have been reported as infected. 2,3 Two species of human schistosomiasis predominate; Schistosomiasis haematobium, which mainly affects the bladder and urogenital system, and S mansoni, which mainly affects the liver and gut. The much rarer species, which are S intercalatum, S japonicum and S mekongi, all present similarly to S mansoni, with the latter two being found in Asia.