[Acute or toxemic form of schistosomiasis mansoni]

The acute or toxemic form of schistosomiasis mansoni is studied under the anatomic and clinical point of view, according to classification made by Neves, Raso and Bagliolo in 1975. The first phase is characterised by the following facts: cutaneous (immediate and late) manifestations; high fever or in progressive elevation; intense diaphoresis abdominal discomfort; intense aqueous diarrhea; dehydration; loss of weight, dry cough; painful hepatosplenomegaly; discreet lymphadenomegaly, progressive increase of blood leucocytes and eosinophiles; radiological pulmonary alterations; absence of alterations in serum protein and hepatic functional tests; the hepatic function biopsy shows focus of acute hepatitis. The second stage or properly named toxemic period was clinically characterized by the neat aggravation of the previously observed phenomena. At last, the evolutive course of the disease has implication derived not only the worm's presence, but from the intense dissemination of eggs in the tissue. In the pre-laying phase one studied the forms of cercarian dermatitis, prodromic and inapparent. In the post laying phase, the properly named acute toxemic form, with its types: pseudocholeraic, pseudotyphous, pseudodysenteric-bacillary, pseudonephritic, pseudoenterovirotic, the reactivated, the ischemic enterocolitis and others; whenever possible clinical and anatomic correlation will be made.