Schistosomiasis: An Uncommon Cause of Colonic Polyposis

Abstract

Schistosomiasis is a parasitic infection caused by the trematodes of the Schistosoma genus. It is one of the neglected tropical diseases, contributing significantly to health-care costs, morbidity, and mortality in the developing world. The resultant disease is broadly classified as urogenital and gastrointestinal schistosomiasis. Intestinal schistosomiasis manifests as altered bowel habits, tenesmus, rectal bleeding, and or abdominal pain. Mucosal lesions include erythema, nodularity, and inflammatory polyps of the colon. Colonic polyps are mucosal lesions, benign or malignant, sporadic or inherited, and have been in the limelight for many years owing to their malignant potential. Inflammatory lesions in schistosomiasis can morphologically resemble neoplastic polyps and pose a diagnostic dilemma. We here report a rare case of intestinal schistosomiasis masquerading as colonic polyps, diagnosed on biopsy and effectively treated with praziquantel.

Keywords

• bilharziasis
• colonic polyps
• schistosomiasis