Incidental finding in a patient with trauma and hematuria

Abstract

Introduction: Schistosomiasis is the second (to malaria) most important human parasitic disease in tropical and subtropical regions infecting more than 100 million people in subSaharan Africa alone. Case Report: We report a case of 17-year-old male who was brought to the Emergency room after being assaulted by his classmates. Apart from the facial injuries, patient had hematuria, which prompted the physicians to undertake additional testing revealing that the patient had Schistosoma hematobium infection. Discussion: Microscopic examination of urine and stool samples for parasite eggs are currently the 'gold' standard field method of diagnosing schistosomiasis. Praziquantel (PZQ) has been available as an effective treatment of schistosomiasis for nearly 30 years. To date, there is no convincing clinical evidence for schistosome resistance to PZQ. Conclusion: Despite the public health prominence of schistosomiasis in Africa and the availability of a cheap and efficacious drug to treat infected people, less than 5% of the infected population is receiving treatment. An integrated strategy, which emphasizes health education, access to clean water and adequate sanitation, mechanization of agriculture, and fencing of water buffaloes, along with mass chemotherapy for both human and livestock, have been suggested to be carried out in parallel to control the infection sources and to stop schistosome transmission.