RESUMO
The study presented here aimed to contrast the marked clinical differences in the presentation of Schistosoma mansoni-induced infection between immigrants and travellers entering Spain from endemic regions, and to elucidate the therapeutic implications of these infections. A total of 200 African immigrants and 80 travellers with schistosomiasis were included in the study. Among the immigrants, 25 patients were diagnosed with Schistosoma mansoni infection; 15 presented with nonspecific symptoms, and 10 were asymptomatic. Hepatosplenomegaly was observed in nine. Among the travellers, 14 were diagnosed with Schistosoma mansoni infection; four were asymptomatic, four had Katayama syndrome, four had diarrhoea, and two had prostatitis. All of the patients were treated with praziquantel. Patients diagnosed with Katayama syndrome received praziquantel and dexamethasone for 3 days, with the praziquantel treatment being repeated at 3-4 weeks. The significant differences observed in the clinical presentation of Schistosoma mansoni-induced infection, indicate that a well-differentiated therapeutic strategy is required when this infection is diagnosed in a non-immune (traveller) or a semi-immune (immigrant) patient.
Assuntos
Emigração e Imigração , Schistosoma mansoni/isolamento & purificação , Esquistossomose/diagnóstico , Esquistossomose/epidemiologia , Viagem , Adulto , Animais , Anti-Helmínticos/uso terapêutico , Humanos , Praziquantel/uso terapêutico , Esquistossomose/tratamento farmacológico , Esquistossomose/fisiopatologia , Espanha/epidemiologiaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: To know the demographic condition, main symptoms and diagnosis in adult African immigrants from a reference Hospital. PATIENTS AND METHOD: A prospective protocol between 1984-1994. RESULTS: 1,321 immigrants were considered. Most of them had an unstable job and illegal situation and they did not speak any European language. Abdominal pain was the most common symptom. The most frequent diagnoses were parasitic/infections and digestive and haematological diseases. CONCLUSIONS: Immigration is not a risk for public health. The illegal situation carries poor sanitary conditions. The clinical protocols help to overcome cultural and idiomatic barriers.