Myeloradiculitis due to Schistosoma haematobium: about an observation in Dakar (Senegal)

Nervous localisations of schistosomiasis are rare. We report the case of a 25 year-old Senegalese patient admitted for a progressive myeloradiculitis onset, over a one week period. The diagnosis of Schistosoma haematobium myeloradiculitis was made in front of a positive serum serology for S. haematobium, presence of S. haematobium eggs in urine, hyperproteinorachia, endemicity of S. haematobium in the region where the patient was originating and a past medical history of macroscopic hematuria in a context of river bathing. There was also no arguments for another cause to these neurological manifestations. Our patient was treated with praziquantel, prednisone and physiotherapy. Evolution was marked 6 weeks after the beginning of treatment by a significant improvement of motor deficit, enabling the patient to walk again. There was also a regression of genitosphincter dysfunction. Work-up for patients presenting with paraplegia in tropical countries, should also include search for S. heamatobium infection.