Schistosomiasis, intestinal
Pathology
- Schistosomiasis is mainly an “immunological disease”
In early infections one might observe:
- Dermatitis (a reaction against invading cercariae)
- Katayama fever (an acute syndrome against schistosomulae in the lungs)
In chronic infections:
- Granuloma formation around eggs deposited in tissues (mainly the liver) leading to hepatic portal fibrosis, portal hypertension and hepatosplenomegaly in heavy infections - Damage is also induced mechanically by eggs which migrate from blood vessels to the intestinal lumen (intestinal haemorrhage)
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