Transverse myelitis in a child with Down's syndrome and schistosomal colitis.

This is a report of an 11-year-old Saudi child with Down's syndrome who presented with a 3-month history of diarrhoea, anal fissures and bleeding per rectum. The child was investigated in a local hospital and found to have evidence of colitis. He was referred to our hospital for further investigation and management. Six weeks prior to transfer, the child developed weakness of the lower limbs resulting in inability to walk. The child was found to have Schistosoma mansoni colitis complicated by spinal cord involvement presenting as transverse myelitis. Two 1-day courses of therapy with praziquantel resulted in a satisfactory recovery, enabling the child to walk by himself.