Acute schistosomiasis (Katayama fever) among British air crew

Abstract

During a off duty weekend in Ghana 14 British men and women who were members of an air crew picnicked on an island in the estuary of the Volta. Ten of them swam in the fresh water, of whom two recalled itching afterwards. Eight became ill two to five weeks later with fever, rigors, and malaise and various other symptoms including cough, weight loss, myalgia, arthralgia, and urticaria. Ova of S mansoni were found in the stools or snips of rectal mucosa in five cases; schistosomiasis was diagnosed in the others after eosinophilia was detected and serological examination yielded positive results. The duration and severity of symptoms in the eight patients with Katayama fever varied. Most were grounded and were ill for three to four weeks. All 10 patients were treated with praziquantel 40 mg/kg body weight orally, and several reported an exacerbation of their symptoms over the next 36 hours. A second dose was given to seven patients one month later, which did not have any adverse effects. Subsequently all the patients recovered fully.