Schistosomiasis: a Case Study

Schistosomiasis is a parasitic infection caused by trematodes (flatworms). It is second only to malaria in public health significance, with an estimated 200 million people infected worldwide. Schistosoma haematobium is endemic in Africa and the Middle East. This case study discusses a 36-year-old Somalian male who immigrated to a Northeastern city in the United States from a refugee camp in Kenya. He presented with episodic gross hematuria and flank pain, and was eventually diagnosed with urinary tract schistosomiasis, which was successfully treated with praziquantel. While the disease is not common in the United States, this case is presented for both its urological and cultural considerations.