Schistosomiasis (Fluke)

Your Path

  • Schistosomiasis (Fluke)

Etiology

  • Flukes, invade skin of swimmers, enter blood stream→ can live in liver, bladder, bowel→ inflammation and fibrosis
  • Intermediate host is snail.

Risk Factors

  • South America
  • Middle East
  • Caribbean
  • Africa
  • Swimming in infected waters

Symptoms

  • Fever
  • Chills
  • Abdominal pain
  • Diarrhea
  • Itching and erruption during first few days at site where enters skin
  • Can cause peri-portal fibrosis, leading to portal htn after years
  • Can live in bladder → SCC after years

Physical Exam Findings

  • Might have weight loss
  • Hepatomegaly, ascites, splenomegaly, edema, GI bleeding related to portal hypertension