Vulvar Schistosomiasis: An Important but Uncommon Diagnosis- “A Near Miss”

Abstract

VULVAR SCHISTOSOMIASIS; AN IMPORTANT BUT UNCOMMON DIAGNOSIS, “A NEAR MISS”

Abstract

Background: Vulvar schistosomiasis, part of the spectrum of female genital schistosomiasis (FGS), is an important tropical disease with a far-reaching negative impact on female reproductive health. However, this disease is rarely diagnosed and reported in clinical even in endemic tropical Africa like Nigeria due to poor awareness and low index of suspicion among the physicians in the tropics. This could result in avoidable morbidities.  Case report: We report a successfully managed case of vulvar schistosomiasis that was long misdiagnosed and mismanaged by unsuspecting physicians, and was nearly misdiagnosed by us. Conclusion: Female genital schistosomiasis, an important tropical disease, is rarely diagnosed in clinical settings even in endemic regions resulting in avoidable morbidities.  This case report calls the attention of physicians especially in the tropics to think outside the usual in their approach to diagnosis and management of female genital pathologies. The need for a biopsy of any suspicious lesion was also underscored.