Neuroschistosomiasis

KEY CLINICAL MESSAGE: In the evaluation of acute flaccid paralysis, particularly in pediatric populations within endemic areas for schistosomiasis infection, clinicians must maintain a high index of suspicion for neuroschistosomiasis. Prompt identification is imperative to mitigate the risk of irreversible neurological sequelae. ABSTRACT: Spinal cord involvement in neuroschistosomiasis (NS) is considerably rare, with even fewer reported cases affecting the conus medullaris in children...

Pseudotumoral encephalic schistosomiasis (PES) is the chronic form of cerebral neuroschistosomiasis, and is rarely encountered in clinical practice. Clinically, PES closely resembles other intracranial space-occupying lesions including brain tumors. Laboratory investigations are usually inconclusive, and neuroradiologic findings are frequently reported as non-specific. Such diagnostic difficulties may result in delayed diagnosis and treatment. Across the literature, there is a paucity of information about and controversy over many aspects of the disease...

INTRODUCTION: Schistosomiasis is a parasitic infection caused by schistosome invasion of blood circulation. Neuroschistosomiasis is a severe cerebral complication that accounts for less than 2.3% of reported cases. Patients present with progressive encephalitis, seizures, or both. Management includes antiparasitic medications, steroids, and surgical intervention. Case Presentation . We report a case of a 44-year-old female who presented to the ER with a history of transient loss of consciousness (LOC) and seizure...

Neuroschistosomiasis is a rare manifestation of schistosomal infections presenting with cerebral and spinal cord involvement. We reported a case of a 31-year-old woman who presented with a history of headache, dizziness, and nausea. Brain MRI with contrast showed features suggestive of brain lesion with edema, and a serology test for Schistosoma was positive. She was diagnosed with neuroschistosomiasis and treated with intravenous steroids followed by praziquantel resulting in a significant regression of the brain mass...

BACKGROUND: Neurological involvement in schistosomiasis presents a significant and serious complication. While the disease is generally considered treatable during the early stages, the rarity of this condition often leads to delays in diagnosis and treatment. This study aims to report the clinical characteristics of pediatric patients with spinal neuroschistosomiasis (NS) in an endemic area to the disease. METHODS: A retrospective cross-sectional review was conducted at Althora General Hospital in Ibb, Yemen, from January 2016 to January 2021...

BACKGROUND: Conus schistosomiasis is an extremely rare entity in which patients present with a wide range of neurological symptoms such as low back pain, paresthesia, fever, myalgia, paraparesis, and paraplegia. This neglected tropical parasitic disease causes significant neurological morbidity. The migration of parasitic worms and their eggs into the central nervous system can lead to profound and life-altering disabilities. Early, accurate diagnosis, and treatment can lead to the complete resolution of symptoms...

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INTRODUCTION: Acute transverse myelitis is an uncommon inflammatory, intramedullary, disorder of the spinal cord. Spastic paraplegia, impaired sphincter functions, and sensory loss, with sensory level, are the clinical manifestations of this devastating disorder. The utilization of magnetic resonant imaging (MRI) contributes to the surge in the diagnosis of more ATM cases. Although the causes of ATM are numerous, both Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Schistosoma mansoni are uncommon causes and their co-existence in the same patient has not been reported before in Saudi Arabia...

Many parasitic diseases (including cerebral malaria, human African trypanosomiasis, cerebral toxoplasmosis, neurocysticercosis and neuroschistosomiasis) feature acute or chronic brain inflammation processes, which are often associated with deregulation of glial cell activity and disruption of the brain blood barrier's intactness. The inflammatory responses of astrocytes and microglia during parasite infection are strongly influenced by a variety of environmental factors. Although it has recently been shown that the gut microbiota influences the physiology and immunomodulation of the central nervous system in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's, the putative link in parasite-induced neuroinflammatory diseases has not been well characterized...

Parasitic infections of the central nervous system (CNS) constitute a wide range of diseases, some quite prevalent across the world, some exceedingly rare. Causative parasites can be divided into two groups: unicellular protozoa and multicellular helminthic worms. This includes diseases such as neurotoxoplasmosis and neurocysticercosis, which represent a major cause of pathology among certain populations, and some more uncommon diseases, as primary amebic meningoencephalitis and neuroschistosomiasis. In this review, we focus on imaging manifestation and some helpful clinical and epidemiologic features of such conditions, providing radiologists with helpful information to identify and correctly diagnose the most common of those pathologies...

Primary glioblastoma of the spinal cord (sGB) is a rare and challenging diagnosis. In the diagnostic algorithm, reversible causes should be considered while the diagnosis of sGB is under evaluation. We present a case of cervical sGB mimicking neuroschistosomiasis. A 21-year-old Somali man presented with neck pain, sensory disturbances, and spastic tetraplegia. Cervical spine magnetic resonance imaging with contrast showed a heterogeneously enhancing intramedullary mass spanning from the level of the C1 to T3 vertebrae...

Schistosomiasis is an endemic parasitic disease in several tropical countries. In Brazil, the only prevalent species of parasite responsible for schistosomiasis is Schistosoma mansoni. Neuroschistosomiasis is the second most frequent form of infection and the primary ectopic manifestation, with predominant involvement of the lower thoracic spinal cord and lumbar and lumbosacral regions. The frequent contact of children with contaminated ponds and the immaturity of their immune systems make this age group especially susceptible to infection by this parasite...

Encephalic schistosomiasis is a rare and severe parasitic disease which manifests as granuloma formation around ectopic eggs that migrate to the brain. We present a rare case of a pseudotumoral form of Schistosoma japonicum in the brainstem that was initially misidentified as a malignant tumor. The patient presented with intermittent headaches, diplopia, and left limb weakness. Neurological examination revealed hypoesthesia of the left lower limb, limitation of right eye abduction, and decreased muscle strength of the left upper limb...

A pediatric patient with neurological deficit was examined using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI]. The images revealed abnormal signal intensity and enhancement of the spinal cord, indicating myelopathy. Identifying the cause of the myelopathy required a differential diagnosis. Images from MRI included a pre-contrast T1 weighted sagittal sequence, which revealed expansion of the distal lumbar spinal cord and conus medullaris from T10-L1. The T2 weighted sagittal sequence revealed patchy areas of hyperintense signal...

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INTRODUCTION: Medullary neuroschistosomiasis is a severe complication of gastrointestinal infection by Schistosoma. There are several endemic areas, wherein the only causative species present is Schistosoma mansoni, which is responsible for the clinical manifestations of all cases in those areas. METHODS: We report the case of a 13-year-old female with lumbar pain and progressive lower limb weakness, with a delayed diagnosis of medullary involvement by the parasite...

BACKGROUND: We investigated the epidemiology, clinical presentation and outcomes of individuals affected by cerebral schistosomiasis. METHODS: This systematic review was planned in accordance with current guidelines for performing comprehensive systematic reviews and meta-analysis, including the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guideline. RESULTS: Most of patients presented with seizures (48.5%), which is a non-specific symptom despite its high prevalence...

We describe three cases of neuroschistosomiasis, two cases with cerebral schistosomiasis due to Schistosoma japonicum , with multiple pseudotumoral lesions presented with seizures and hemiparesis respectively, and a spinal cord conus medullaris schistosomiasis due to Schistosoma mansoni presented with conus medullaris syndrome. In the two cases with cerebral schistosomiasis imaging with CT revealed multiple areas of brain edema, and gyriform calcifications in both cerebral hemispheres, which suggested cerebral parasitemia, chronic venous hypertension, multifocal cerebral vascular malformation, or a forme fruste Sturge Weber syndrome...

BACKGROUND: Neuroschistosomiasis is a severe complication of schistosomiasis, triggered by the local immune reaction to egg deposition, with spinal cord involvement the most well recognised form. Early treatment with praziquantel and high dose steroids leads to a reduction of neurological sequelae. The rarity of this condition in returning travellers to high income countries can result in delayed diagnosis and treatment. We aimed to evaluate the diagnosis and management of neuroschistosomiasis in a UK national referral centre...

Neuroschistosomiasis is a rare manifestation of Schistosoma infection and can either manifest as cerebritis or with spinal cord involvement. We present a case of low back pain and lower limb weakness, which was initially managed as idiopathic transverse myelitis and later on found to have neuroschistosomiasis. A 23-year-old Sudanese gentleman presented with a one-week history of low back pain, lower limb weakness, and urinary retention. An urgent MRI of the spine with contrast showed features suggestive of transverse myelitis...