Schistosomiasis and vascular alterations of the colonic mucosa

The diagnosis of schistosomiasis is made by identification of Schistosoma in stool and urine, or by colonic or hepatic biopsies. The authors demonstrate in this paper, however, that it is also possible to suspect this disease by colonoscopy, i.e., by macroscopic observation of the vascular alterations in the mucous membrane of parasite infected patients. Out of 33 patients -21 with schistosomiasis and 12 with other intestinal parasitoses--the endoscopist correctly diagnosed Schistosomiasis in 18 (85.7%) patients, although he had no previous experience of the diagnosis. Since this infection is widespread throughout the world, these endoscopic findings are important; they may help the physician correctly diagnosis schistosomiasis in non-endemic areas where the diagnosis may not be suspected.