Diagnosis

diagnosis

A detailed history together with physical examination is important in diagnosing the infection:

• medical history
  • inquire about any recent travel to any endemic country or whether emigrated from an endemic country
  • contact with a freshwater source e.g. - lakes, rivers, streams
• physical examination
  • check for an urticarial rash (discrete erythematous raised lesions that vary in size from 1-3 cm)
  • hepatomegaly and splenomagealy (in about a third of patients)
  • dry or moist rales on auscultation of the lungs during the acute phase
  • generalised lymphadenopathy

See linked item for investigations carried out for schistosomiasis

Reference:

• (1) Gray DJ et al. Diagnosis and management of schistosomiasis. BMJ. 2011;342:d2651.