title: Neuroschistosomiasis mansoni: literature review and guidelines.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Schistosomiasis is a tropical disease caused by worms of the genus Schistosoma. It is endemic in the Caribbean Islands, the middle east, eastern Asia, South America, and Africa. In nonendemic areas, physicians should be aware of this condition in travelers returning from endemic areas and in immigrants. The main disease-causing species are Schistosoma haematobium, Schistosoma mansoni, and Schistosoma japonicum. Neuroschistosomiasis is an ectopic form of the disease that is mainly associated with S. japonicum infection. Involvement of the central nervous system (CNS) in S. mansoni infection is neglected and underestimated. Neuroschistosomiasis mansoni can be classified into cerebral, spinal, and encephalomyelitic forms in the course of an acute or chronic infection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We review the CNS involvement by S. mansoni infection with an emphasis on life cycle, epidemiology, pathophysiology and immunology, clinical manifestations, diagnostic criteria, differential diagnosis, current treatment guidelines, and prognosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although an underreported CNS infection, found mainly in underdeveloped countries, neuroschistosomiasis mansoni still causes significant incapacity and morbidity. Hence, neurologists should become familiar with this infection worldwide and include it in the differential diagnosis of CNS involvement in travelers returning from endemic areas and in immigrants.
authors.affiliation: Neurology Division, University Hospital, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Thiago C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Vale
authors.forename: Sílvio R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: de Sousa-Pereira
authors.forename: João G R
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Ribas
authors.forename: José R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Lambertucci
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D008018:Life Cycle Stages; D020818:Neuroschistosomiasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni; D014195:Travel