Schistosoma haematobium infection in children in Britain

Objective To highlight the existence of Schistosoma haematobium in certain ethnic minority groups in Britain and in English citizens who have recently visited Africa and the Middle East, so that general practitioners and paed iatric nephrologists/urologists are aware of its occurrence and consider it among the differential diagnoses in children presenting with haematuria. Patients and methods Over a 2-year period, six consecutive boys (mean age 1 3.5 years, range 8-15) presented with haematuria and were subsequently diag nosed to be infected with S. haematobium. All patients were from Africa and had recently visited their native country. There had all reported paddling in freshwater lakes and streams. Results Dysuria and haematuria was noted 2-3 months after the infection, Te rminal urine samples taken after exercise at midday were positive for S, ha ematobium ova. Praziquantel anti-schistosomal chemotherapy was effective in treating the infection. Conclusion S. haematobium infection is treatable in the early stages and th e changes are reversible before the development of fibrotic lesions, which may result in anatomical obstruction, A terminal urine sample taken at midd ay after exercise was diagnostic in showing Schistosoma ova in all cases, T his infection must be considered in the differential diagnoses of haematuri a in some ethnic minority British citizens and in those Britons who have vi sited Africa or the Middle East in the recent past.