Schistosoma haematobium

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
In the text accompanying their clinical image of Schistosoma haematobium, Kaplan and Meyers (Oct. 12 issue)1 state that “schistosomiasis is not thought to occur in Somalia.” We disagree. Schistosomiasis needs to be considered in the differential diagnosis of unexplained hematuria in Somali immigrants. Schistosomiasis is a major health problem in Somalia; it is found in 36 percent of the population, including children. Essentially all reported cases in Somalia are thought to be due to S. haematobium. 2 Although the frequency of schistosomiasis among East African immigrants in the United States is largely unknown, 15 of 60 Somali refugees who arrived in New York or Chicago from the Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya between June and November 1998 had probable or confirmed schistosomiasis.3 Urine and stool samples from all 60 refugees were examined for parasites.

This publication has 3 references indexed in Scilit: