Schistosomiasis

Definition

A rare parasitic disease characterized by infection with trematodes of the genus Schistosoma. Humans become infected when larvae (cercariae) in infested freshwater penetrate the skin, potentially causing cercarial dermatitis. After a few weeks, eggs laid by the adult female worms living in blood vessels become trapped in body tissues, causing progressive organ damage due to inflammation, granuloma formation, and fibrosis. Acute schistosomiasis presents with fever, cough, headache, and urticaria, while chronic manifestations depend on the localization of the eggs and typically include abdominal pain, diarrhea, hepatosplenomegaly, blood in stool or urine, and dysuria, among others.