Schistosoma haematobium infection in children in Britain.
OBJECTIVE
To highlight the existence of Schistosoma haematobium in certain ethnic minority groups in Britain and in English citizens who have recently visited Africa and the Middle East, so that general practitioners and paediatric nephrologists/urologists are aware of its occurrence and consider it among the differential diagnoses in children presenting with haematuria.


METHODS
Over a 2-year period, six consecutive boys (mean age 13.5 years, range 8-15) presented with haematuria and were subsequently diagnosed to be infected with S. haematobium. All patients were from Africa and had recently visited their native country. There had all reported paddling in freshwater lakes and streams.


RESULTS
Dysuria and haematuria was noted 2-3 months after the infection. Terminal urine samples taken after exercise at midday were positive for S. haematobium ova. Praziquantel anti-schistosomal chemotherapy was effective in treating the infection.


CONCLUSIONS
S. haematobium infection is treatable in the early stages and the changes are reversible before the development of fibrotic lesions, which may result in anatomical obstruction. A terminal urine sample taken at midday after exercise was diagnostic in showing Schistosoma ova in all cases. This infection must be considered in the differential diagnoses of haematuria in some ethnic minority British citizens and in those Britons who have visited Africa or the Middle East in the recent past.
Samuel
M
M
Department of Paediatric Surgery, Royal London Hospital, London, UK.
Misra
D
D
Larcher
V
V
Price
E
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000349:Africa / Q000208:ethnology; D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011223:Praziquantel / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012548:Schistosoma haematobium / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012553:Schistosomiasis haematobia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000208:ethnology; D014195:Travel; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
D000871:Anthelmintics; D011223:Praziquantel