Reversibility of urinary tract abnormalities due to Schistosoma haematobium infection

In view of the controversial results regarding reversibility of urinary tract lesions due to Schistosoma haematobium infection, 103 patients in the People's Republic of Congo were followed up one year after treatment with Praziquantel (40 mg/kg body wt) by means of ultrasonography. The study group consisted mainly of children. Before therapy a total of 113 lesions were detected in the lower urinary tract. These consisted of bladder wall enlargements (N = 53), enlargements of the bladder wall in combination with singular (N = 16) or multiple polyps (N = 30), vesical calcifications (N = 10), and cases with cystitis cystica (N = 4). One year after therapy, a drastic reduction of ova output was observed, and only eight pathological abnormalities of the lower urinary tract were still detectable. Vesical calcifications persisted in four out of ten cases. Urinary tract obstructions of different degrees (N = 42) showed a comparably marked reversibility. It was concluded that, in children, the resolution of bladder lesions induced by urinary schistosomiasis resulted in reversibility of urinary tract obstructions one year after treatment with Praziquantel.