Intestinal schistosomiasis with colonic polyps

Abstract

Schistosomiasis is a parasitic infection which commonly affects the intestine. Colonic polyps associated with intestinal schistosomiasis are not commonly reported in young people. Our case report describes a 20-year-old man from North-Central Nigeria who presented with recurrent passage of loose, mucoid, bloody stool, and weight loss. His biochemical profile and stool tests were unremarkable. A colonoscopy showed multiple ulcers and polyps with ulcerated surfaces in the transverse and sigmoid colon. Histopathology revealed islands of colonic-type mucosa containing numerous benign colonic glands in a densely inflamed lamina propria containing lymphocytes, eosinophils, and histiocytes, with numerous ova and calcified parasite bodies of Schistosoma. The patient was treated with praziquantel and showed marked clinical improvement.