SCHISTOSOMIASIS IMPORTED BY SPANISH TRAVE LERS - CLINICAL AND EPIDEMIOLOGIC-STUDY OF 80 CASES

BACKGROUND: Swimming in rivers or lakes is a risk activity, in areas w here the life cycle of schistosomiasis occurs. This report presents an d analizes the clinical presentation and epidemiological data of 80 Sp anish travellers. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Descriptive longitudinal and r etrospective study that includes clinicoepidemiological and the labora tory data and imaging diagnosis. Patients were seen at the Section of Tropical Medicine, Hospital Clinic i Provincial, Barcelona. RESULTS: M ost patients acquired the infection in the Dogon country of Mall. 25% of them presented with symptoms related to the genital tract. In some groups, 45% of travellers that swam, contracted the infection. The mos t prevalent species diagnosed was S. haematobium and 10 travellers pre sented with mixed infections. CONCLUSIONS: The trip to the Dogon count ry should be considered as <<a risk activity>>. Travellers Advice Clin ics should include the subject of swimming in infected waters in their routine counselling. Genital tract localizations were registered for three species of schistosome. The classical clinical presentation of s chistosomiasis in the endemic areas differs considerably from that see n in travellers.