Female Genital Schistosomiasis: A Neglected Tropical Disease Infecting Women of Reproductive Age in Endemic Areas

Schistosomiasis (bilharzia) is a neglected tropical disease caused by trematode parasitic worms of the genus Schistosoma . Approximately 207 million persons are infected with schistosomiasis worldwide. Female genital schistosomiasis (FGS) is characterized by the presence of schistosome eggs/worms in the upper or lower genital tract.Several studies have shown that FGS is a common manifestation in S. haematobium infection, with prevalence rate ranging from 30% to 75% in some communities. Other studies have indicated that schistosome ova deposition may be the cause of genital papillomatous tumours, leukoplakia, polyps, and ulcers similar to sexually transmitted diseases (STD). 

Pregnant or lactating women infected with schistosomiasis in endemic areas, may be complicated further by malnutrition and low immunity resulting in more pathology related to liver and kidney function. Despite the potentially enormous at-risk population, little is knownabout the schistosome-specific morbidities that are experienced by pregnant andlactating mothers and their newborns. Apparently, the patho-physiological changes that occur, have not been fully investigated in women of reproductive age residing in schistosomiasis endemic areas, in the context of treatment alogrithms for administration of praziquantel in pregnant women, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Read more...........