title: Pulmonary nodules in African migrants caused by chronic schistosomiasis.
abstract: Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease that can cause mainly hepatic and genitourinary damage, depending on the species. Involvement of the lungs has been commonly described in acute infection (Katayama syndrome) and chronic infection (pulmonary hypertension). Although rarely reported in the scientific literature, cases of lung nodules due to chronic schistosome infection are also possible and are probably more frequent than commonly thought. Here we report seven cases of African migrants who were diagnosed with chronic schistosomiasis and pulmonary nodules due to deposition of schistosome eggs, and we compare our findings to the case reports found in the scientific literature. We discuss the management of these patients in a non-endemic setting, beginning with a first fundamental step that is to include parasitic infections, namely schistosomiasis, in the differential diagnosis of pulmonary nodules in African immigrants. All patients responded to antiparasitic treatment with praziquantel after a relatively short time. We therefore conclude that lung biopsies and other invasive procedures (performed in the first cases to rule out other potential causes, such as tuberculosis or malignant nodules) can be avoided or postponed.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Tropical Diseases, Sacro Cuore-Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar, Verona, Italy; Global Health Center, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gobbi
authors.affiliation: Centre for Tropical Diseases, Sacro Cuore-Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar, Verona, Italy. Electronic address: dora.buonfrate@sacrocuore.it.
authors.forename: Dora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Buonfrate
authors.affiliation: Centre for Tropical Diseases, Sacro Cuore-Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar, Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Angheben
authors.affiliation: Centre for Tropical Diseases, Sacro Cuore-Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar, Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Beltrame
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Infectious Disease University Hospital "Santa Maria della Misericordia", Udine, Italy.
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bassetti
authors.affiliation: Thoracic Surgery Unit, Sacro Cuore-Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar, Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bertolaccini
authors.affiliation: Pathology Unit, Sacro Cuore-Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar, Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bogina
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Sacro Cuore-Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar, Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Caia
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Infectious Disease University Hospital "Santa Maria della Misericordia", Udine, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Duranti
authors.affiliation: Centre for Tropical Diseases, Sacro Cuore-Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar, Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gobbo
authors.affiliation: Centre for Tropical Diseases, Sacro Cuore-Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar, Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Marchese
authors.affiliation: Centre for Tropical Diseases, Sacro Cuore-Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar, Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marocco
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Infectious Disease University Hospital "Santa Maria della Misericordia", Udine, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Merelli
authors.affiliation: Centre for Tropical Diseases, Sacro Cuore-Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar, Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Geraldo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Monteiro
authors.affiliation: Thoracic Surgery Unit, Sacro Cuore-Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar, Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Terzi
authors.affiliation: Centre for Tropical Diseases, Sacro Cuore-Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar, Verona, Italy; Global Health Center, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Zeno
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Bisoffi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D008174:Lung Diseases, Parasitic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology; D008297:Male; D011223:Praziquantel / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012548:Schistosoma haematobium / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012553:Schistosomiasis haematobia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014171:Transients and Migrants
chemical_list: D011223:Praziquantel