Medullary neuroschistosomiasis in adolescence: case report and literature review

Medullary neuroschistosomiasis is a severe complication of gastrointestinal infection by Schistosoma. There are several endemic areas, wherein the only causative species present is Schistosoma mansoni, which is responsible for the clinical manifestations of all cases in those areas.

We report the case of a 13-year-old female with lumbar pain and progressive lower limb weakness, with a delayed diagnosis of medullary involvement by the parasite. We also reviewed the literature on the disease.

Although it is related to the less severe forms of schistosomiasis, one should pay attention to the diagnosis of neuroschistosomiasis in cases of transverse myelitis in patients who traveled to endemic areas. The delay in diagnosis and, consequently, the introduction of treatment may result in irreversible neurological sequelae.