BOOK REVIEW LIVRO* * Este livro encontra-se na Biblioteca do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo.
JORDAN, P.; WEBBE, G. & STURROCK, R.F. - Human schistosomiasis. U. K., CAB International, 1993. 480p. (Price: £ 65.00/US$ 123.50 Americas only)
HB ISBN 0 85198 844 X
Despite the improvement of the public health situation in some developing regions of the world in the last decades, the high prevalence of parasitic diseases and, particularly, schistosomiasis in many of these countries are still challenging conditions for their medical authorities. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) about 200 million patients are infected by one of the human species of Schistosoma, representing a huge public health problem. So, for medical and paramedical personnel, in developing countries, it is very important to have up dated books in this subject.
This book, at a first glance, seems a new edition of another Jordan & Webbe's book - Schistosomiasis: Epidemiology, Treatment and Control - published in 1982 as a sequence of the first one also named Human Schistosomiasis, appeared in 1969. But, in fact, it is a new book written with the participation of another expert in schistosomiasis research (R. F. Sturrock), and with the inclusion of many new aspects and a comprehensive review of the biological, epidemiolo-gical, clinical, diagnosticai, therapeutical and control aspects of human schistosomiasis, although the authors had used the previous first name for the present book. By the way, a very adequate name.
Among the new aspects included in the book call special attention the chapter related to the use of ultrasonography in schistosomiasis patients, considered today as an important tool for the diagnosis and prognosis of the liver disease due to Schistosoma infection, as well as, the utilization of ultrasound at community level, in field conditions, improving the possibilities of schistosomiasis morbidity evaluation.
Human Schistosomiasis is, in short, a very useful book for routine consultation by physicians and other public health workers living where schistosomiasis is an endemic infection. On the other hand, it would be an important help also for medical students at graduated and pos-graduated levels, as well as for everyone who is interested in the study of human parasites.
Pedro Paulo Chieffi
Publication Dates
-
Publication in this collection
20 Sept 2006 -
Date of issue
June 1994
