TY - CHAP
T1 - Schistosomiasis of the nervous system
AU - Coyle, Christina Marie
N1 - Copyright:
Copyright 2018 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2013
Y1 - 2013
N2 - Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease caused by blood flukes of the genus Schistosoma. Currently 200 million people worldwide are infected. Neurological manifestations are a result of the inflammatory response of the host to egg deposition in the brain and spinal cord and is usually seen in patients with recent infection with no evidence of systemic illness. Cerebral and cerebellar disease can result in headache, seizure, and increased intracranial pressure. Cerebral schistosomiasis is more common in Schistosoma japonicum, but increasing cases due to Schistosoma mansoni are being reported in the literature. Other complications of cerebral schistosomiasis include delirium, loss of consciousness, visual field impairment, focal motor deficits, and ataxia. Myelopathy is the most common neurological manifestation of Schistosoma mansoni and the conus medullaris and cauda equine are the most common sites of involvement. Severe disease can result in flaccid paraplegia with areflexia, sphincter dysfunction, and sensory disturbance. Early recognition and prompt treatment are essential when physicians are faced with schistosomiasis involving the central nervous system. Schistosomicidal drugs, such as praziquantel, steroids and surgery, are the mainstay of therapy for this severe form of schistosomiasis.
AB - Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease caused by blood flukes of the genus Schistosoma. Currently 200 million people worldwide are infected. Neurological manifestations are a result of the inflammatory response of the host to egg deposition in the brain and spinal cord and is usually seen in patients with recent infection with no evidence of systemic illness. Cerebral and cerebellar disease can result in headache, seizure, and increased intracranial pressure. Cerebral schistosomiasis is more common in Schistosoma japonicum, but increasing cases due to Schistosoma mansoni are being reported in the literature. Other complications of cerebral schistosomiasis include delirium, loss of consciousness, visual field impairment, focal motor deficits, and ataxia. Myelopathy is the most common neurological manifestation of Schistosoma mansoni and the conus medullaris and cauda equine are the most common sites of involvement. Severe disease can result in flaccid paraplegia with areflexia, sphincter dysfunction, and sensory disturbance. Early recognition and prompt treatment are essential when physicians are faced with schistosomiasis involving the central nervous system. Schistosomicidal drugs, such as praziquantel, steroids and surgery, are the mainstay of therapy for this severe form of schistosomiasis.
KW - Brain
KW - CT scan
KW - Central nervous system
KW - Magnetic resonance imaging
KW - Schistosoma haematobium
KW - Schistosoma japonicum
KW - Schistosoma mansoni
KW - Schistosoma ova
KW - Schistosomiasis
KW - Spinal cord
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84879861749&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84879861749&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/B978-0-444-53490-3.00022-4
DO - 10.1016/B978-0-444-53490-3.00022-4
M3 - Chapter
C2 - 23829918
AN - SCOPUS:84879861749
T3 - Handbook of Clinical Neurology
SP - 271
EP - 281
BT - Handbook of Clinical Neurology
PB - Elsevier B.V.
ER -