Occult Schistosomiasis haematobia in a traveller returned from Africa

Schistosoma haematobium is common in Africa and parts of the Middle East. Travellers to these regions are susceptible to infection through contact with fresh water, but are often not screened for infection upon return to their home countries. We describe a two year delay in the diagnosis of schistosomiasis haematobia in a 19-year old Japanese male with a history of travel to Africa and peripheral eosinophilia, but no other symptoms. Diagnosis was delayed in part due to the absence of haematuria or proteinuria on urine dipstick, the absence of microscopichaematuria and negative Schistosoma serology. The absence of haematuria is not a sufficient criteria to exclude a diagnosis of infectin with S. haematobiumin a returned traveller.