INTRODUCTION: Medullary neuroschistosomiasis is a severe complication of gastrointestinal infection by Schistosoma. There are several endemic areas, wherein the only causative species present is Schistosoma mansoni, which is responsible for the clinical manifestations of all cases in those areas. METHODS: We report the case of a 13-year-old female with lumbar pain and progressive lower limb weakness, with a delayed diagnosis of medullary involvement by the parasite. We also reviewed the literature on the disease. CONCLUSIONS: Although it is related to the less severe forms of schistosomiasis, one should pay attention to the diagnosis of neuroschistosomiasis in cases of transverse myelitis in patients who traveled to endemic areas. The delay in diagnosis and, consequently, the introduction of treatment may result in irreversible neurological sequelae.
INTRODUCTION: Medullary neuroschistosomiasis is a severe complication of gastrointestinal infection by Schistosoma. There are several endemic areas, wherein the only causative species present is Schistosoma mansoni, which is responsible for the clinical manifestations of all cases in those areas. METHODS: We report the case of a 13-year-old female with lumbar pain and progressive lower limb weakness, with a delayed diagnosis of medullary involvement by the parasite. We also reviewed the literature on the disease. CONCLUSIONS: Although it is related to the less severe forms of schistosomiasis, one should pay attention to the diagnosis of neuroschistosomiasis in cases of transverse myelitis in patients who traveled to endemic areas. The delay in diagnosis and, consequently, the introduction of treatment may result in irreversible neurological sequelae.
Authors: Egídio Tesser; Maria de Lourdes Amud Ali dos Reis; Primavera Borelli; Sandro Luiz de Andrade Matas; João Baptista dos Reis Filho Journal: Arq Neuropsiquiatr Date: 2005-09-09 Impact factor: 1.420
Authors: José Roberto Lambertucci; Luciana Cristina dos Santos Silva; Ronaldo Santos do Amaral Journal: Rev Soc Bras Med Trop Date: 2007 Sep-Oct Impact factor: 1.581
Authors: Luciana Cristina dos Santos Silva; Pedro Ernane Maciel; João Gabriel Ramos Ribas; Sílvio Roberto de Sousa Pereira; José Carlos Serufo; Luciene Mota Andrade; Carlos Maurício Antunes; José Roberto Lambertucci Journal: Rev Soc Bras Med Trop Date: 2004 May-Jun Impact factor: 1.581