Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Volume 18, Issue 5, 2016, Pages 1237-1240

Urinary Schistosomiasis in an Adolescent Refugee from Africa: An Uncommon Cause of Hematuria and an Emerging Infectious Disease in Europe (Article)

Poddighe D.* , Castelli L. , Pulcrano G. , Grosini A. , Balzaretti M. , Spadaro S. , Bruni P.
  • a Department of Pediatrics, Azienda Ospedaliera di Melegnano, via Pandina 1, Vizzolo Predabissi, MI 20070, Italy
  • b Department of Pediatrics, Azienda Ospedaliera di Melegnano, via Pandina 1, Vizzolo Predabissi, MI 20070, Italy
  • c Department of Chemical and Clinical Analysis, Azienda Ospedaliera di Melegnano, via Pandina 1, Vizzolo Predabissi, MI 20070, Italy
  • d Department of Chemical and Clinical Analysis, Azienda Ospedaliera di Melegnano, via Pandina 1, Vizzolo Predabissi, MI 20070, Italy
  • e Department of Chemical and Clinical Analysis, Azienda Ospedaliera di Melegnano, via Pandina 1, Vizzolo Predabissi, MI 20070, Italy
  • f Department of Chemical and Clinical Analysis, Azienda Ospedaliera di Melegnano, via Pandina 1, Vizzolo Predabissi, MI 20070, Italy
  • g Department of Pediatrics, Azienda Ospedaliera di Melegnano, via Pandina 1, Vizzolo Predabissi, MI 20070, Italy

Abstract

We report a case of urinary schistosomiasis in an adolescent refugee from Gambia (arrived to Italy illegally), who was brought to the Emergency Department of our hospital. The patient complained of gross hematuria and, in the absence of clinical evidence of bacterial urinary infection, was admitted to the pediatric ward, considering his provenience and social setting. An appropriate collection and microscopic analysis of urine samples led to the detection of bilharzia. Much attention should be paid to this emerging disease in Europe by physicians in order to recognize and treat it timely, which could prevent future and higher costs for public health systems and could reduce the potential risk of environmental spreading. In fact, there are some areas in Italy where the parasite can find its intermediate host to complete its lifecycle. © 2015, Springer Science+Business Media New York.

Author Keywords

Imported disease Hematuria Urinary schistosomiasis

Index Keywords

communicable disease male case report Italy Humans refugee hematuria complication ethnology Gambia Communicable Diseases, Emerging Schistosomiasis haematobia human epidemiology Refugees Adolescent
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84940703060&doi=10.1007%2fs10903-015-0272-3&partnerID=40&md5=8f9363520815cda9cefa71f7dbb4d11c
DOI: 10.1007/s10903-015-0272-3
ISSN: 15571912
Cited by: 7
Original Language: English