Schistosomiasis Differential Diagnoses

  • Author: Shadab Hussain Ahmed, MD, FACP, FIDSA, AAHIVS; Chief Editor: Burke A Cunha, MD   more...
 
Updated: Oct 28, 2011
 
 

Diagnostic Considerations

Fever and rash with eosinophilia can be due to other helminthic parasitic diseases or drug reactions. Hematuria may also indicate other disorders, including the following:

  • Renal tuberculosis
  • Urogenital tract cancer
  • Acute nephritis

Intestinal and liver symptoms may indicate the following disorders:

  • Peptic ulcer disease
  • Pancreatitis
  • Visceral leishmaniasis
  • Myeloproliferative syndromes
  • Tropical splenomegaly

Seizures and focal neurologic symptoms may be indicative of epilepsy or of any space-occupying lesion.

Other conditions to consider in the differential diagnosis of schistosomiasis include the following:

  • Appendicitis
  • Gastroenteritis
  • Inflammatory bowel disease
  • Salmonella infection
  • Serum sickness
  • Spinal cord infections
  • Urinary obstruction
  • Female urinary tract infection
  • Male urinary tract infection
  • Acute viral syndrome (including HIV)
  • Drug reactions
  • Helminthic parasitic diseases
  • Pancreatitis
  • Tropical splenomegaly
  • Cirrhosis
  • Pulmonary hypertension
  • Co-infection with malaria
  • Co-infection with HIV
  • Co-infection with hepatitis B or hepatitis C

Differential Diagnoses

Proceed to Workup
 
 
Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Shadab Hussain Ahmed, MD, FACP, FIDSA, AAHIVS  Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine, The School of Medicine at Stony Brook University Medical Center; Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, New York College of Osteopathic Medicine of New York Institute of Technology; Attending Physician, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Director of HIV Prevention Services, Administrative HIV Designee, Nassau University Medical Center

Shadab Hussain Ahmed, MD, FACP, FIDSA, AAHIVS is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians, Infectious Diseases Society of America, and International AIDS Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Burke A Cunha, MD  Professor of Medicine, State University of New York School of Medicine at Stony Brook; Chief, Infectious Disease Division, Winthrop-University Hospital

Burke A Cunha, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Chest Physicians, American College of Physicians, and Infectious Diseases Society of America

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Additional Contributors

Joseph F John Jr, MD, FACP, FIDSA, FSHEA Clinical Professor of Medicine, Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Medical University of South Carolina; Associate Chief of Staff for Education, Ralph H Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Medscape Reference Salary Employment

Additional Contributors

Joseph F John Jr, MD, FACP, FIDSA, FSHEA Clinical Professor of Medicine, Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Medical University of South Carolina; Associate Chief of Staff for Education, Ralph H Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Medscape Reference Salary Employment

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Egg of Schistosoma hematobium, with its typical terminal spine.
Granuloma in the liver due to Schistosoma mansoni. The S mansoni egg is at the center of the granuloma.
Table 1. Parasitic Species and Geographical Distribution of Schistosomiasis[1, 7]
SpeciesGeographical distribution
Intestinal schistosomiasisSchistosoma mansoni



(mesenteric venules of the colon)



Africa, the Middle East, the Caribbean, and South America
Schistosoma japonicum



(mesenteric venules of the small intestine)



Asia only: China, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand
Schistosoma mekongi



(mesenteric venules of the small intestine)



Several districts of Cambodia and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. 200-km area of Mekong river basin; now extending toward northern provinces
Schistosoma intercalatum



(mesenteric venules of the colon) and related S guineensis



Rain forest areas of Central and West Africa
Urogenital schistosomiasisSchistosoma haematobium



(vesical venous plexus)



Africa, the Middle East, India, and Turkey
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