Schistosomiasis

Schistosomiasis is a serious disease caused by tiny parasitic flatworms.

These worms are called schistosomes. People often call this illness snail fever or bilharzia. It is a neglected tropical disease that affects many humans and animals. The worms usually live in the urinary tract or the intestines.

This sickness can cause many different problems for the body. Some people feel very sick with fever and muscle aches. Others might have pain in their bellies or blood in their urine. In children, it can even make it hard to grow or learn.

This disease spreads through contact with certain types of fresh water.

First, parasites are released from infected freshwater snails into the water. When a person touches this water, the tiny larvae can enter the skin. This often causes an itchy, red rash called swimmer's itch.

Once inside, the worms migrate through the body's blood and lungs. They eventually settle into places like the liver or the intestines. There, the adult worms lay eggs that move through the body. These eggs can cause inflammation or damage to many different organs.

Doctors use special ways to find out if someone is sick. They can look for the parasite's eggs in a person's urine or stool.

They can also check the blood for antibodies against the disease. If the infection is long-term, it can lead to very serious issues. The eggs can cause damage to the liver, kidneys, or even the bladder.

In some bad cases, eggs might even travel to the brain or spinal cord. This could cause things like seizures or even paralysis.

Schistosomiasis is very common in parts of Africa, Asia, and South America.

In 2019, about 236.6 million people around the world were impacted by it. It is estimated that between 4,400 and 200,000 people die from it every year. About 700 million people live in places where this disease is found. In tropical regions, it is the second most important parasitic disease after malaria. Children are often at higher risk because they play in the water. Women are also at risk when they fetch water or wash clothes.

There are ways to help stop the spread of these worms. One way is to improve access to clean water for everyone.

Another way is to reduce the number of snails in the water. The World Health Organization recommends a medicine called praziquantel for those who are sick.

In some areas, doctors give this medicine to entire groups once a year. This helps lower the total number of people who have the worms. By doing this, the disease cannot spread as easily from person to person.