TY - JOUR
T1 - Urinary Schistosomiasis in an Adolescent Refugee from Africa
T2 - An Uncommon Cause of Hematuria and an Emerging Infectious Disease in Europe
AU - Poddighe, Dimitri
AU - Castelli, Lucia
AU - Pulcrano, Giovanna
AU - Grosini, Alessia
AU - Balzaretti, Michela
AU - Spadaro, Salvatore
AU - Bruni, Paola
PY - 2016/10/1
Y1 - 2016/10/1
N2 - We report a case of urinary schistosomiasis in an adolescent refugee from Gambia (arrived to Italy illegally), who was brought to the Emergency Department of our hospital. The patient complained of gross hematuria and, in the absence of clinical evidence of bacterial urinary infection, was admitted to the pediatric ward, considering his provenience and social setting. An appropriate collection and microscopic analysis of urine samples led to the detection of bilharzia. Much attention should be paid to this emerging disease in Europe by physicians in order to recognize and treat it timely, which could prevent future and higher costs for public health systems and could reduce the potential risk of environmental spreading. In fact, there are some areas in Italy where the parasite can find its intermediate host to complete its lifecycle.
AB - We report a case of urinary schistosomiasis in an adolescent refugee from Gambia (arrived to Italy illegally), who was brought to the Emergency Department of our hospital. The patient complained of gross hematuria and, in the absence of clinical evidence of bacterial urinary infection, was admitted to the pediatric ward, considering his provenience and social setting. An appropriate collection and microscopic analysis of urine samples led to the detection of bilharzia. Much attention should be paid to this emerging disease in Europe by physicians in order to recognize and treat it timely, which could prevent future and higher costs for public health systems and could reduce the potential risk of environmental spreading. In fact, there are some areas in Italy where the parasite can find its intermediate host to complete its lifecycle.
KW - Hematuria
KW - Imported disease
KW - Urinary schistosomiasis
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84940703060&partnerID=8YFLogxK
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U2 - 10.1007/s10903-015-0272-3
DO - 10.1007/s10903-015-0272-3
M3 - Article
C2 - 26335551
AN - SCOPUS:84940703060
VL - 18
SP - 1237
EP - 1240
JO - Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
JF - Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
SN - 1557-1912
IS - 5
ER -