title: Morbidity of Schistosomiasis mansoni in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil.
abstract: From 2002 to 2005, a program of active search for patients with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis and schistosomal myeloradiculopathy has been implemented in the state of Minas Gerais by the local Health Department. The state was divided in 28 regional health centers and the local representatives have been trained to identify and direct patients with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis and neuroschistosomiasis to a reference center in Belo Horizonte, the capital of the state of Minas Gerais. Seventy five patients with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis and 54 with schistosomal myeloradiculopathy have been referred and examined in the reference center in a period of time of 3 years. Schistosomal myeloradiculopathy should be emphasized because the number of cases reported is increasing rapidly and when timely diagnosed and treated, they respond promptly to treatment. Left untreated, they die or become invalid for life. In our view, the time has come for more active investigation of the different aspects of morbidity caused by schistosomiasis mansoni in Brazil.
authors.affiliation: Secretaria de Saúde do Estado de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sandra Costa
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Drummond
authors.forename: Luciana Cristina dos Santos
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Ronaldo Santos do
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Amaral
authors.forename: Silvio Roberto
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Sousa-Pereira
authors.forename: Carlos Maurício
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Antunes
authors.forename: José Roberto
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Lambertucci
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008109:Liver Diseases, Parasitic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020818:Neuroschistosomiasis / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D011843:Radiculopathy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D013158:Splenic Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*