Schistosomiasis

What is Schistosomiasis?

Schistosomiasis is also known as bilharziasis, snail fever, swimmer's itch. Schistosomiasis is a tropical disease caused by parasitic trematode worms, known as blood flukes which leads to long term, chronic ill health. These flukes live in fresh water, in the venules of the large intestine, liver, bladder, small intestine. People get it by skin contact with contaminated fresh water.It occurs widely throughout the tropics and subtropics but not found in United states.

Causes of Schistosomiasis

• Schistosomiasis is caused by trematode flatworms of the genus Schistosoma
• It is caused by the following spices of the blood flukes, known as schistosomes-
  • Schistosoma mansoni
  • Schistosoma japonicum or Schistosoma mekongi
  • Schistosoma intercalatum
  • Schistosoma haematobium

Symptoms of Schistosomiasis

• Fever
• Abdominal pain
• Weight loss
• Itchy skin
• Muscle aches

What are the treatments for Schistosomiasis?

• Take Praziquantel medicine for 1-2 days.
• Use castor oil as an oral anti-penetration agent to prevent Schistosomiasis.
• Oxamniquine - used to treat intestinal schistosomiasis in Africa and South America.
• Metrifonate - effective to treat urinary schistosomiasis.