Schistosomiasis (also known as bilharziasis
snail fever and Katayama fever) is caused by parasitic worms of the Schistosoma
type. It may infect the urinary tract or intestines.
snail fever and Katayama fever) is caused by parasitic worms of the Schistosoma
type. It may infect the urinary tract or intestines.
Mode of Transmission
The disease is spread by contact with water that
contains the parasite. These parasites are release from fresh-water snails that have been infected. The disease is especially common among children in
developing countries as they more like to play in infected water. Other high
groups include farmers, fishermen and people using infected water for their
daily chores.
contains the parasite. These parasites are release from fresh-water snails that have been infected. The disease is especially common among children in
developing countries as they more like to play in infected water. Other high
groups include farmers, fishermen and people using infected water for their
daily chores.
Symptoms
Symptoms may include abdominal pain, diarrhoea, blood
stool, or blood in urine. In those who have been infected a long time, liver
damage, kidney failure, infertility or bladder cancer may occur. In children it
may cause poor growth and learning difficulty.
stool, or blood in urine. In those who have been infected a long time, liver
damage, kidney failure, infertility or bladder cancer may occur. In children it
may cause poor growth and learning difficulty.
Methods of Prevention
Methods
of prevention of the disease include improving access to clean water and
reducing the number of snails. In areas where the disease is common entire
groups may be treated all at once and yearly with the medication-praziquantel.
This is done to decrease the number of people infected and therefore decrease
the spread of the disease.
of prevention of the disease include improving access to clean water and
reducing the number of snails. In areas where the disease is common entire
groups may be treated all at once and yearly with the medication-praziquantel.
This is done to decrease the number of people infected and therefore decrease
the spread of the disease.