Schistosomiasis
Also called: bilharzia
A disease caused by infection with freshwater parasitic worms in certain tropical and subtropical countries.
- Treatable by a medical professional
- Requires a medical diagnosis
- Lab tests or imaging always required
- Spreads through contaminated food or water
The parasite can be found in subsaharan Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and the Caribbean. The freshwater becomes contaminated from infected animal or human urine or feces. The parasites penetrate human skin to enter the bloodstream and migrate to the liver, intestines, and other organs.
A rash, itchy skin, fever, chills, cough, headache, belly pain, joint pain, and muscle aches are symptoms.
A medication taken for one to two days can clear the infection.
Very rare: Fewer than 20,000 US cases per year
Consult a doctor for medical advice
Sources: Mayo Clinic and others. Learn more
People also ask
How do you treat bilharziasis?
Praziquantel is the recommended treatment against all forms of schistosomiasis. It is effective, safe, and low-cost. Even though re-infection may occur after treatment, the risk of developing severe disease is diminished and even reversed when treatment is initiated and repeated in childhood.
How fatal is bilharzia?
Bilharzia is not usually fatal immediately, but it is a chronic illness that can seriously damage the internal organs. In children, it can lead to reduced growth and problems with cognitive development. Some types of bilharzia can affect birds and mammals, such as water buffalo.
What parasitic worms cause bilharzia?
These schistosomes (also called blood flukes) are parasitic flatworms that belong to the genus Schistosoma. Parasites are creatures who live in or on another organism (host) and get their food from the host.
What are 5 symptoms of bilharzia?
Symptoms of schistosomiasis/bilharzia
At first, there are often no symptoms of schistosomiasis but within one to two months of infection, symptoms may develop including fever, abdominal pain (liver/spleen area), bloody diarrhoea or blood in the stools or urine, coughing, malaise, headaches, rashes and body aches.
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Bilharzia, or “snail fever,” is a disease caused by a parasitic worm. The worm, or fluke, has several different species. It affects the intestines and the ...
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Schistosomiasis is caused by a parasitic flatworm that enters your skin from infected bodies of water. It is associated with bladder cancer.
Schistosomiasis, also known as bilharzia, is a disease caused by parasitic worms. More than 200 million people worldwide are infected.
