Abstract

CABRERA, Jesús Lazo; HERNANDEZ BRAVO, Bárbara del R; MENDEZ SUAREZ, María A  and  LOZANO BECERRA, Rosabel de la C. Schistosomiasis in childhood: an experience to the Cuban Medical Internationalist Missions. Rev Ciencias Médicas [online]. 2009, vol.13, n.4, pp. 194-199. ISSN 1561-3194.

Schistosome is a non-endemic parasite in Cuba, but with an elevated frequency in Africa, Asia and Latin-America; of them, five species infest man. No evidences of this parasite are found in Cuba. Considering the presence of Cuban Medical Internationalist Missions in other parts of the world, it is useful to transmit the professional experience in an African country. A 7-year-old-male patient, presenting an adequate nutritional status, coming from a sub-urban district of Mampula City. Mozambique, sub-Saharan Africa, at physical examination showed dermatitis in hands and feet for several weeks in evolution. The patient attended to the clinic presenting edema in the lower limbs, difficulties to urinate and dark urines. Suspecting, a possible Acute Diffuse Glomerulonephritis according to the frequency of the disease in that environment. After a limited therapeutic response, and a change in the epidemiologic view and the laboratory results; a childhood presentation of a form of massive schistosomiasis was confirmed, a frequent entity in the geographic regions where Cuban medical missions work. Some suggestions to transmit the experience to the medical missions were made taking into consideration several aspects after a medical literature review.

Keywords : Schistosomiasis; glomerulonephritis; diagnosis.

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