Schistosomal Myeloradiculopathy - A case report

• Published in: Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical
• Main Authors: Maria Aparecida da Silva, Gisele Alborghetti Nai, Nair Toshiko Tashima, Flávia Noris Chagas, Suellen Marmoutelo Basso, Ana Cláudia Ferreira Geraldini, Renata Janeiro Marques, Thaís Dante Correia Rocha
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT) 2019
• Subjects: Schistosomiasis; Nervous System Diseases; Parasitic Diseases; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1590/0037-8682-0335-2018; https://doaj.org/article/c8d4dbadbc41460081de1febfbaf4c2e

Abstract The most common neurological impairments related to schistosomiasis involve the lower portions of the medulla and the cauda equina. A 22-year-old woman, with no history, signs, or symptoms of hepatointestinal schistosomiasis, presented with lumbar pain associated with acute paresthesia and paresis of the right lower limb. Spinal schistosomiasis was suspected based on the disease progression and radiological findings, and the diagnosis was confirmed after cerebrospinal fluid analysis. The authors emphasize this pathology as important as a differential diagnosis in similar clinical scenarios, especially in endemic areas, because both early diagnosis and treatment are essential to avoid permanent sequelae.