Open AccessCerebral Schistosomiasis
Author(s) -
Antônio Santos de Araújo Júnior,
Pedro Alberto Arlani,
Arnaldo Salvestrini Júnior,
Mirella Martins Fazzito,
Evandro Sobroza de Mello,
Albino Augusto Sorbello,
João Batista Gomes Bezerra
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
jornal brasileiro de neurocirurgia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2446-6786
pISSN - 0103-5118
DOI - 10.22290/jbnc.v22i3.1019
Subject(s) - schistosomiasis , spinal cord , medicine , schistosoma , parasitic disease , central nervous system , schistosoma mansoni , pathology , biology , disease , immunology , helminths , psychiatry
Schistosomiasis is a cutaneously acquired infection caused by trematodes (fla¬tworms from the phylum Platyhelminthes), due to swimming in contaminated waters. The central nervous system (CNS) schistosomiasis is a rare presen¬tation of the disease. Brain infection due to S. Mansoni has been rarely reported, in anedoctal fashion. It should be early recognized , since an available treatment may prevent neurological deterioration. A high index of sus¬picion is necessary, mainly in patients coming from endemic areas, with brain or spinal cord lesions associated with eosino¬philia and inflammatory CSF. The finding schistosoma eggs in stools or in a CNS biopsy confirms the diagnosis. We re¬port on a 35-year old brazilian man harboring an isolated brain infection due to S. mansoni.