Schistosomiasis is a parasitic infection found in tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Asia, and South America. It can cause debilitating symptoms and increase the risk of bladder cancer. The disease is caused by exposure to contaminated fresh water and is highly treatable with medication. Prevention measures include avoiding contaminated water sources and boiling drinking water.
Schistosomiasis is a parasitic infection that occurs in tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Asia and South America. Although schistosomiasis rarely causes death, it can cause disease and can lead to a variety of debilitating symptoms. People are at higher risk of developing bladder cancer when they have this disease. Cases of schistosomiasis are also highly treatable with a single course of medication.
People develop schistosomiasis when exposed to the parasite through contact with contaminated fresh water. This can include drinking from contaminated sources, swimming or bathing in dirty water. Parasitic flukes enter through the skin, travel through the body, and mature into adults who can begin producing eggs. Schistosomiasis symptoms are caused by immune reactions to the eggs, rather than reactions to the parasite itself.
In the early stages of the infection, people may experience symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea, fatigue, fever, sores, and skin irritation. If schistosomiasis is not treated, the patient will develop a chronic disease. The liver and spleen may become enlarged, the eggs may travel to the nervous system and cause symptoms such as seizures, and internal organs may be damaged.
A diagnosis of schistosomiasis is often obtained simply by examining the patient and discussing medical and travel history. People in areas where this infection is common who have symptoms such as bloody diarrhea can be assumed to have schistosomiasis. It is also possible to test stool for eggs, as some of the eggs are expressed by the body.
Treatment involves administering medications to kill the parasite. Unfortunately for many people in areas where this disease is endemic, the drug can be expensive and difficult to obtain. After malaria, schistosomiasis is one of the most common parasitic infections in many regions of the world. Charitable organizations have promoted the more ready availability of appropriate medicines, together with measures for prevention.
This condition is also known as bilharzia, after the physician who first described it in the mid-1800s, or snail fever, after the common host of the parasitic flukes that cause it. People can reduce their risk of contracting schistosomiasis by avoiding sources of contamination. Drinking and bathing water should be boiled before use, and people should avoid swimming in fresh water if they can. These measures are usually more feasible for travelers passing through areas where flukes are common than for residents. Long-term control measures include developing clean water reservoirs for communities to use.
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