Schistosomiasis in a child presenting with atypical spinal lesions in a non-endemic country — a case report

Schistosomiasis is an uncommon disease in European countries, such as Poland. However, the rare occurrence of this disease in the modern era, which is characterized by increased opportunities for migration, may start to pose a risk over time due to the diagnosis of this condition in patients who have imported it from its endemic areas. We report the case of a 9-year-old boy of Cameroonian origin who recently resided in Poland and who presented with recurrent hematuria, abdominal pain, and eosinophilia. Persistent symptoms and comprehensive diagnostics revealed Schistosoma haematobium infection, confirmed by the detection of eggs in urine sediment. In addition, imaging tests revealed renal asymmetry, calcium lesions in one of the ureters, and spinal lesions that are not characteristic of the Schistosoma infection. The patient was treated with two courses of praziquantel, resulting in clinical improvement and absence of S. haematobium eggs in the follow-up urine test.