A Case Report of Female Genital Schistosomiasis in a 29-Year-Old Patient From a Teaching Hospital in North-Eastern Nigeria

Abstract

Schistosomiasis is a chronic parasitic infection that affects more than 220 million people worldwide, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). One of the complications of urogenital Schistosomiasis is female genital Schistosomiasis (FGS) which is associated with the presence of S. haematobium eggs and related pathologies in the genitals of women living in or visiting schistosomiasis-endemic areas. FGS is a neglected and misdiagnosed gynaecological disease with un-specific clinical symptoms and signs. It adversely affects the quality of sexual and reproductive health of women and is a risk factor for HIV and HPV infections in affected women. Diagnosis of upper genital tracts FGS is mostly accidental from histological examination of excised tissues. This is a case description of a rare incidence of female genital Schistosomiasis of the upper genital tract in a 29-year-old, single woman from a Schistosomiasis-endemic area of Adamawa State, Nigeria who presented with a history of lower abdominal pain of a month duration and abdominal swelling. Physical examination revealed a pelvic mass of 16 weeks' gestation size and histological examination confirmed the presence of Schistosome ova in the excised ovarian cyst. Clinicians should have a high index of suspicion of female genital Schistosomiasis (FGS) in women and girls in Schistosomiasis-endemic areas. Deliberate programs for healthcare workers and outreach programs for the communities must be designed and implemented to raise awareness about genital Schistosomiasis.