Effect of bilharzial infestation on some hormonal patterns in Egyptians

ABSTRACT

Bilharziasis in its different forms is estimated to affect at least 200 million people in 72 subtropical and tropical countries in the world. In Egypt it affects 70-80 percent or rural population estimated to be about millions. Complications of Bilharziasis can affect many hormonal patterns in the body. Hepatosplenic Bilharziasis and its sequalue is one of its dangerous complications as it is known that bilharzia ova reach the liver in nearly every case [Issa 1950]. The ova deposition will result in bilharzial granulomate which will ultimately end in hepatic fibrosis with various clinical stages [kely et al 1975, Hashem 1947, Ismail et al 1962 and Mousa et al 1960]. Endocrine features of cirrhosis such as gynaecomastia, testicular atrophy palmar erythema, reduced secondary sex hair, spider naevi and importance had reported to occur in cirrhosis including bilharzial liver cirrhosis. Disturbances in the endocrine function of pancreas [Berkowitz, 1969, and Ghanem et al, 1973], thyroid and gonads [Ghareeb et al, 1969] were reported in bilharzial liver cirrhosis. The endocrine disturbances depend on age of infestation, duration of affection and whether or not the patient received antibilharzial treatment