What is the primary symptom of schistosomiasis?

The primary symptom of schistosomiasis is abdominal pain, which is closely associated with the disease's pathology. Schistosomiasis is caused by parasitic worms of the genus Schistosoma, and these parasites can inhabit various organs in the body, particularly the liver and intestines. As they mature and reproduce, the worms can cause inflammation and damage to tissues, leading to significant abdominal discomfort and pain.

This abdominal pain can be accompanied by other gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea or blood in the urine, depending on the specific type of schistosome involved. While other symptoms like a chronic cough, high fever, or skin rash may occur in relation to other illnesses or complications of schistosomiasis, they are not the primary indicators of this disease. The distinctive abdominal pain is what often leads to further investigation and diagnosis of schistosomiasis.