Ultrasonography of urinary tract lesions caused by bilharziasis in Yemeni patients

Abstract

Objective To evaluate abnormalities detected by ultrasonography in Yemeni patients with active Schistosoma haematobium infection. Patients and methods As part of a co-operation between a private hospital and the Schistosomiasis Control Project in Yemen, laboratory and ultrasonographic examinations were undertaken in 158 patients (eight female, 150 male, mean age 17 years) with active S. haematobium infection. Upper urinary tract dilatation, lower ureteric changes and bladder wall abnormalities (thickness, hyper-echogenicity and polypoid lesions) were recorded. Laboratory ®ndings and ultrasonographic changes were evaluated and categorized according to the age of the patients. Results Twenty-eight patients (18%) showed no morphological lesion on ultrasonography. Bladder abnormalities (thickness, hyper-echogenicity and polypoid lesions) were found in 130 patients (82%) and upper tract lesions in 86 (54%). There were no upper tract lesions seen without an associated bladder abnormality. There were polyps within the lower ureteric lumen in four patients; in these patients there was a higher incidence of severe infection. One patient had a urinary bladder tumour. Conclusion Urinary bilharziasis has typical ultrasonographic features, but may occur with no morphological lesion detectable on ultrasonography. Upper tract lesions seem to develop only with lower tract abnormalities.

Urinary schistosomiasis among schoolchildren in Yemen

“…Because it is a chronic insidious disease, it is poorly recognized at early ages and becomes a threat to development as it disables men and women during their most productive years [2]. Schistosomiasis is the second major public health problem in Yemen after malaria [3,4]. Yemen has the second highest prevalence of schistosomiasis in the Eastern Mediterranean WHO region, after Sudan [3].…”

Diagnosis and management of complicated urogenital schistosomiasis: a systematic review of the literature

“…UO detection showed sensitivity of 83 and 100% in trained operators, with a specificity of 98 and 100%. Similar values for ureteral OU when proximal pathology, whilst values dropped significantly for distal pathology (Se 17 and 23%) △ [ 23 ] Salah MA 2000 Yemen Transversal study Endemic area residents Ultrasound to detect the presence of OU in residents in an endemic area 158 included patients m/f Mean [range]: 17 [6–41] OU found in 12% of patients (upper urinary tract) and 16% of patients. Practical role of US in the detection of OU related to chronic schistosomiasis △ [ 26 ] Salas-Coronas J 2013 Spain Retrospective study Migrants Ultrasound to detect the presence of OU in migrants residing in non- endemic area (219 patients) m/f Mean [range]: 26.7 [15–52] The authors only report a prevalence of 1.1% of OU in migrants with schistosomiasis seen by US △ [ 12 ] Salas-Coronas J 2020 Spain Retrospective study Migrants Ultrasound to detect the presence of OU in a non-endemic area (386 patients, partially overlapping with the previous cohort) m/f Mean [range]: 27.3 [11–57] The authors only report a prevalence of 1.5% of OU in migrants with schistosomiasis seen by US △ [ 24 ] Serieye J 1996 Madagascar Transversal study Endemic area residents Ultrasound to detect the presence of OU in residents in an hyperendemic area (574 patients, with a prevalence of S. haematobium infection of 75,9% of patients) and in a control are (100 patients, 7 of whom infected) m/f …”

A hyperechoic bladder-ring appearance as pathognomonic finding for emphysematous cystitis – A case report and literature review

“…EC is commonly associated with DM, urinary outlet obstruction, neurogenic bladder, indwelling urethral catheters, or impaired immune function [6] . Another study reported hyper–echogenicity observed among young adults (8 female, 150 male, mean age 17 years) in the Schistosomiasis Control Project of Yemen with Schistosoma haematobium urinary tract infection [7] . Differences between this and our case might exist in causative organisms and existence of air collection in the bladder.…”