Spinal cord schistosomiasis in children: analysis of seven cases

Arq Neuropsiquiatr. 2002 Jun;60(2-A):224-30. doi: 10.1590/s0004-282x2002000200007.

Abstract

We describe seven cases of children (ages 2 to 14 years) with myeloradiculopathy caused by infection with S. mansoni. None of them presented hepatosplenic involvement and one presented an intestinal picture. The myeloradicular and pseudotumoral forms were observed in four and three patients, respectively. Comparing the reports in the literature, we found that the pseudotumoral form is more similarly frequent among children than in adults, while the myelitic and myeloradicular forms are the most frequent and distributed across all age groups. Diagnosis is based on clinical and epidemiological findings in association with laboratory tests. The diagnosis was confirmed by the presence of S. mansoni eggs in feces (5 cases) and / or the positivity in specific immunological tests (5 cases) associated with a cerebrospinal fluid inflammatory pattern with presence of eosinophils (between 1 and 24%). Magnetic resonance image, although it does not enable an etiological diagnosis, helped to confirm the form and spinal cord level of the lesion.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Anthelmintics / therapeutic use
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Oxamniquine / therapeutic use
  • Praziquantel / therapeutic use
  • Prednisone / therapeutic use
  • Schistosomiasis mansoni / diagnosis*
  • Schistosomiasis mansoni / drug therapy
  • Schistosomiasis mansoni / parasitology
  • Schistosomicides / therapeutic use
  • Spinal Cord Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Spinal Cord Diseases / drug therapy
  • Spinal Cord Diseases / parasitology

Substances

  • Anthelmintics
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Schistosomicides
  • Oxamniquine
  • Praziquantel
  • Prednisone