[S. mansoni intestinal schistosomiasis].

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL DATA: Caused by Schistosoma mansoni, intestinal bilharziasis is endemic in west central Africa, the Arabic peninsula, the Caribbean Islands and the Atlantic cost of South America. Young adults emit large quantities of eggs in stools. CLINICALLY: The adult stage of Schistosoma mansoni lives in the mesenteric veins draining the colon. Its eggs are deposited in the submucosal veinules then pass into the intestinal lumen. Patients eliminating eggs massively experience abdominal pain and diarrhea with stools containing blood and mucus. Hepatomegalia develops, often with splenomegalia. Signs of portal hypertension, collateral circulation and ascitis are observed in highly endemic areas. Other less typical signs of digestive disorders such as anorexia, vomiting, or nausea, have also been reported.