title: Simple clinical manifestations of genital Schistosoma haematobium infection in rural Zimbabwean women.
abstract: Up to 75% of women with urinary schistosomiasis have Schistosoma haematobium ova in the genitals. This study aimed to describe the prevalence of gynecologic S. haematobium infection and to differentiate the disease from sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Gynecologic and laboratory investigations for S. haematobium and STIs were performed in 527 women between the ages of 20 and 49 in rural Zimbabwe. Genital homogenous yellow and/or grainy sandy patches, the commonest type of genital pathology, were identified in 243 (46%) women. Grainy sandy patches were significantly associated with S. haematobium ova only. Genital S. haematobium ova was also significantly associated with homogenous yellow sandy patches, mucosal bleeding, and abnormal blood vessels. The presence of ova was not a predictor for ulcers, papillomata, leukoplakia, polyps, or cell atypia. Mucosal sandy patches seem to be pathognomonic for S. haematobium infection in the female genitals. Coexistence of ova and other lesions may not be causal.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Imported and Tropical Diseases, Department of Infectious Diseases, Ullevaal University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. e.f.kjetland@medisin.uio.no
authors.forename: Eyrun Floerecke
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Kjetland
authors.forename: Patricia D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Ndhlovu
authors.forename: Takafira
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mduluza
authors.forename: Exenevia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gomo
authors.forename: Lovemore
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gwanzura
authors.forename: Peter R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Mason
authors.forename: Edith Nyaradzai
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Kurewa
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Midzi
authors.forename: Henrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Friis
authors.forename: Svein Gunnar
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Gundersen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012424:Rural Population; D012548:Schistosoma haematobium / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012553:Schistosomiasis haematobia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D014626:Vaginal Smears; D015030:Zimbabwe / Q000453:epidemiology