Schistosoma Mansoni (4 of 9)

Acute Schistosomiasis - Also called 'Katayama' fever. This is associated with the onset of the female parasite laying eggs, (approximately 5 weeks after infection), and granuloma formation around eggs trapped in the liver and intestinal wall. It resembles 'serum sickness' (i.e. acute immune complex disease), with hepatosplenomegaly, and leucocytosis with eosinophilia. This phase of the infection is often asymptomatic, but when symptoms do occur they include fever, nausea, headache, an irritating cough and, in extreme cases diarrhoea accompanied with blood, mucus and necrotic material. These symptoms , if present, last from a few weeks, to several months. It is not as commonly associated with S. mansoni infections compared with those of S. japonicum.