Gall bladder disease

The gall bladder is a sac which lies underneath the liver and stores and concentrates bile produced by the liver. As food enters the duodenum, it stimulates the release of cholecystokinin, which in turn stimulates the release of bile, which passes via the cystic duct to the common bile duct, which connects to the duodenum at the sphincter of Oddi. Bile is required in digestion, especially for the emulsification and absorption of fat. Biliary disease can take several forms. Cholelithiasis refers to the presence of gallstones in the gall bladder, whereas choledocholithiasis refers to gallstones in the biliary tree. Cholecystitis is inflammation and infection of the gall bladder. Cholangitis is inflammation and infection of the biliary tree. Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction (SOD) is characterized by symptoms of biliary obstruction, with no structural cause. Other forms of biliary disease are gall bladder polyps, primary biliary cholangitis, and primary sclerosing cholangitis.

Macroscopic hematuria: A rare etiology in western countries

Although schistosomiasis is one of the most prevalent parasitic diseases worldwide, the infection frequently being found in migrants and travelers, its recognition in Italy may be delayed as patients may either present symptoms or be asymptomatic, especially with regard to localization in the bladder, in a similar way to other infectious diseases. We report a case of urinary schistosomiasis in a young African male with persistent hematuria which did not respond to antibiotic treatment administered on suspicion of a urinary bacterial infection. The present case indicates that urinary schistosomiasis should be ruled out, especially in those patients presenting symptoms and coming from areas known to be endemic for helminthiasis. Finally, bladder polyps must be ruled out in cases of migrants with unexplained urinary inflammation associated either with or without hematuria.