Schistosomiasis of the lower reproductive tract without egg excretion in urine
Poggensee, G.; Kiwelu, I.; Saria, M.; Richter, J.; Krantz, I.; Feldmeier, H.
American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 59(5): 782-783
1998
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-9637 PMID: 9840597 Document Number: 486445
The individual and public health impact of female genital schistosomiasis (FGS) has been studied and FGS as a risk factor for acquiring human immunodeficiency virus is discussed. In a community-based study in Tanzania, 40% of the women of child-bearing age (n = 543) showed excretion of Schistosoma haematobium eggs in the urine (median = 2.2 eggs/10 ml of urine) and 32% (n = 263) had S. haematobium eggs in their cervical tissue. Urinary and genital schistosomiasis coexisted in 62% of the women, but S. haematobium eggs were found in the cervix without detectable egg excretion in the urine in 23%. Only 43% of the FGS cases had hematuria. Since FGS frequently exists in women with scanty or no egg excretion in the urine and because this disease manifestation is a considerable individual and public health hazard in S. haematobium-endemic areas, mass treatment targeted to women of child-bearing age should be considered.