title: Global Health: Urogenital Schistosomiasis in the Adolescent Girl.
abstract: Urogenital schistosomiasis affects millions of women in sub-Saharan Africa. Infection by the causative organism, Schistosoma hematobium, commonly occurs during childhood and adolescence and can lead to anemia from hematuria, inflammation on the cervix which can increase risk of HIV transmission, and pelvic infection leading to infertility. Fortunately treatment is not costly, but early diagnosis is important to reduce long-term morbidity. Our objective is to review the epidemiology, pathophysiology, and diagnosis of urogenital schistosomiasis as well as treatment to improve the reproductive health of girls where this infection is endemic.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL.
authors.forename: Sharise T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Orlando, FL.
authors.forename: Ashley L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Franklin
authors.affiliation: Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Center for Adolescent Medicine, Cleveland, OH.
authors.forename: Ellen S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Rome
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Orlando, FL. Electronic address: judith.simms-cendan@ucf.edu.
authors.forename: Judith S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Simms-Cendan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017954:Africa South of the Sahara / Q000453:epidemiology; D000818:Animals; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005260:Female; D014943:Global Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence; D012548:Schistosoma haematobium; D012553:Schistosomiasis haematobia / Q000453:epidemiology*
keywords: Neglected diseases; Reproductive tract infections; Urogenital schistosomiasis