Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 1996 Mar 1;3(1):32-36.
doi: 10.1111/j.1708-8305.1996.tb00693.x.

Schistosomiasis Acquired in Lake Malawi

I Potasman I  1 , N Pick, A Abel, M Dan
Affiliations
Free article

Schistosomiasis Acquired in Lake Malawi

I Potasman I et al. J Travel Med. .
Free article

Abstract

Background: Schistosomiasis is second only to Malaria in its prevalence in the tropics. The mode of transmission of this disease is unknown to many travelers, whereas other travelers consciously choose to ignore recommendations offered by travel clinics. Methods: We present a descriptive analysis of 22 patients who presented with S. haematobium (SH) infection to two travel clinics in Israel during 1993 and 1994. Results: All 22 patients (mean age 24.2 yrs) apparently acquired SH in lake Malawi. The group contained seven couples, which indicates a very high attack rate. Three of the cases were asymptomatic, thereby causing a diagnostic delay of up to 52 weeks. Diagnosis was established in 18 cases by finding eggs in the urine, and in eight cases, by serology. Conclusion: All cases of SH diagnosed at two medical centers in Israel in 1993 and 1994 were acquired in Lake Malawi. A few of the cases were totally asymptomatic, which raises the question of routine screening. Travel clinics should warn travelers to the Lake Malawi region of this specific hazard.

PubMed Disclaimer