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 splenomegaly (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. Gomes LI, Enk MJ, Rabello A; Diagnosing schistosomiasis: where are we? Rev Soc Bras Med Trop. 2014 Jan-Feb;47(1):3-11.