Up to a quarter of patients infected with Schistosoma mansoni will have involvement of the central nervous system. How this involvement occurs is uncertain, but most patients also have cardiopulmonary involvement.
Both eggs and adult worms can be found. These may not be identified if the brain is not examined at autopsy or if the evaluation is inadequate.
Clinical findings may include:
(1) none (asymptomatic)
(2) signs of cerebral and/or cerebellar hemorrhage
(3) headache
(4) seizures
(5) coma
(6) vertigo
Host responses:
(1) none
(2) lymphocytic response
(3) vasculitis with or without fibrinoid necrosis
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