Connotations of Genital Schistosomiasis
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Source:tdr-scientists@who.ch
Herewith another item of the new issue of TDR Newsletter 54 which
will be available in October 1997.
Although female genital schistosomiasis (FGS) is held to be an impor-
tant social and medical problem, much research remains to be done.
The condition is associated with a wide range of pathological mani-
festations in the female lower genital tract such as tumours and ul-
cers. There is also some evidence that it is associated with compli-
cations such as infertility, abortion, pre-term delivery, and extra-
uterine pregnancy (a life-threatening condition), but these associa-
tions remain largely undocumented. Even less is known about male
genital schistosomiasis.
In February of this year, a meeting, sponsored jointly by TDR and the
Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in
Human Reproduction (HRP), was held in Sevrier, France, to discuss the
current status of our knowledge of FGS, identify key areas where re-
search is needed, and discuss research protocols currently under de-
velopment. Presentation and discussion ranged from: reviews of the
literature; reviews of country records (Sudan and Madagascar); and
perceptions of FGS; to diagnosis of FGS (ethical, technical and meth-
odological difficulties); and field studies (in Madagascar, China and
Malawi). Protocols for future studies were also developed.
Highlighted was the present lack of data on: the epidemiological pat-
terns and risk factors of FGS, the behavioural and social dimensions
of FGS, the interactions of FGS with other diseases and conditions,
the economic significance of FGS, and the relationship between geni-
tal schistosomiasis and infertility. At present, there are too few
data to allow genital schistosomiasis and its public health impact to
be fully described and assessed. *
So the future promises a lot more in the way of research on genital
schistosomiasis. Outline protocols with research groups were prepared
during the meeting and some were recommended for funding by the Gen-
der and Tropical Diseases Task Force at its meeting in May. These in-
cluded research on the interaction between FGS and HIV/AIDs in Zim-
babwe and on infertility and FGS in Cameroon.
* A full report of the meeting is available from TDR
Jocelyne Bruyere
TDR Communications
mailto:bruyerej@who.ch
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