How Do You Know if You Have Schistosomiasis?

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 urinary system preferentially, but because it lives in the blood vessels, it can harm other systems in the trunk as well.

The Globe Wellness Organization (WHO) draw bilharzia — now by and large known as schistosomiasis — every bit both an acute and chronic illness. Symptoms appear as the body reacts to the parasite'south presence, but complications tin persist long-term.

The disease tin can affect different parts of the body, including the lungs, the nervous system, and the brain. The area of damage volition depend on the species of parasite.

Bilharzia is non commonly fatal immediately, but it is a chronic disease that tin can seriously damage the internal organs. In children, information technology tin lead to reduced growth and problems with cognitive development.

Some types of bilharzia can bear on birds and mammals, such as water buffalo.

Share on Pinterest

Schistosomiasis or bilharzia is passed on by a parasite that is present in fresh water in some places.

According to the WHO, the infection starts when a person comes into straight contact with fresh water where certain types of water snail carry the worm.

The parasites enter the body when a person is swimming, washing, or paddling in contaminated water. They can also become infected by drinking the water or eating nutrient that a person has washed in untreated water.

The infective form of the fluke is known as cercariae. The cercariae emerge from the snails, pass through a person's skin when they are in the water, and develop into adult worms that live in the individual's claret.

Depending on the blazon of worm, bilharzia can affect:

• the intestines
• the urinary system, increasing the risk of float cancer
• the liver
• the spleen
• the lungs
• the spinal cord
• the brain

The infection cycle of the parasite begins when the worm'due south eggs enter fresh h2o through the feces and urine of humans who already have the infection.

The eggs hatch in the h2o, releasing tiny larvae, and the larvae reproduce inside the h2o snails.

Subsequently they accept infected h2o snails, the worm'due south cercariae, are released. The cercariae tin can survive for upwards to 48 hours.

The cercariae tin penetrate human being skin and enter the bloodstream. At that place, they travel through the blood vessels of the lungs and liver, so to the veins effectually the bowel and bladder.

Afterwards some weeks, the worms are mature. They mate and start producing eggs. These eggs pass through the walls of the bladder, the intestine, or both. Eventually, they leave the body through urine or feces. At this point, the cycle starts once more.

A person with schistosomiasis cannot pass it on to another person. Humans only become infected through contaminated h2o where the snails are living.

More than than 200 one thousand thousand people have bilharzia worldwide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), although the parasite is not nowadays in the United States.

Places where the parasite occurs include:

• Africa, including Egypt and the Nile Valley
• South America and parts of the Caribbean
• Southeast Asia
• Republic of yemen, in the Centre East

Bilharzia can touch on people of whatsoever age in an affected area, but those who are most at risk include:

• children
• people who swim, piece of work, or have other contacts with freshwater rivers, canals, lakes, and streams

Bilharzia does not occur in the U.S., merely people accept adult the rash known as swimmer's itch, or cercarial dermatitis, subsequently exposure to a related species of schistosomes, the parasite that causes bilharzia.

Health authorities have investigated outbreaks of cercarial dermatitis in Stubblefield Lake in northern New United mexican states, and one in Prospect Lake in the heart of Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Americans are at risk of infection if they travel to areas where the illness exists. Anyone who is visiting these regions should check with a doctor about whatever precautions they may need to take.

The touch on of an infection depends on the type of worm and the stage of infection.

Symptoms occur when the body reacts to the worm'due south eggs.

Acute stage

Share on Pinterest

A fever and a rash are symptoms of bilharzia.

Symptoms tin can take between 14 and 84 days to announced, according to the CDC.

Approximately 3 to 8 weeks after infection, the person may feel:

• a rash
• fever
• headache
• torso aches, or myalgia
• animate difficulties

Chronic phase

Many people do not evidence symptoms at the early phase, but they may develop symptoms equally the disease progresses. These later symptoms again depend on the blazon of parasite.

If the parasites affect the liver or intestines, symptoms may include:

• diarrhea and constipation
• blood in the feces
• abdominal ulcers
• liver fibrosis
• portal hypertension, or high blood pressure around the digestive system

If the parasites bear upon the urinary organization, in that location may also be:

• blood in the urine
• painful urination
• higher risk of bladder cancer

Over time, anemia can develop. In rare cases, the parasite may affect the central nervous system.

Children may take stunted growth and a reduced adequacy to learn, according to the WHO.

If a person has symptoms, or they recollect they may have had contact with contaminated water, they should see a doctor. The doctor may refer them to an infectious illness or tropical medicine specialist.

They should be ready to tell the doctor:

• where they have traveled
• how long they were in that location
• whether they were in contact with contaminated h2o
• any symptoms and when these first appeared
• whether they take had an itchy rash or blood in the urine

A stool or urine sample volition indicate whether whatsoever eggs are present. The dr. may request a claret test.

The worm takes almost 40 days to mature. A blood sample may not testify reliable results until at least 6 to 8 weeks later on exposure.

If there are abdominal symptoms, the person may need a biopsy of the rectum, even if urine and blood tests are negative. They may also accept a bladder biopsy.

It may be a good thought for a person to have a checkup 3 months after returning home, even if they take no symptoms, considering the symptoms may not show up until later.

No vaccine is available for schistosomiasis, but treatment can help reduce the bear upon of infection.

If a person's examination result is positive, a short course of a medication called praziquantel is usually constructive as long as the individual has not experienced meaning damage or complications.

Praziquantel can aid, even at an advanced phase, but it does not prevent re-infection.

People who live in a high-take chances area can accept a single oral dose of praziquantel to reduce the chance of infection and complications. People may need this treatment yearly for several years.

Researchers are working to develop a vaccine that will stop the parasite's lifecycle from continuing in humans.

Share on Pinterest

Tourists should accept intendance about coming into contact with fresh h2o in some parts of Asia, Africa, and Central and S America.

The CDC advise people to avoid all contact with fresh h2o in areas where contamination is likely.

People should take care when:

• swimming unless in seawater or a chlorinated pool
• drinking water
• eating food done in water
• bathing

Treating water with iodine does non kill parasites. Anyone who is living or traveling where the illness is present should drink but bottled water or boil the h2o for at least 1 minute beforehand.

Whatever contact with contaminated h2o, however slight, tin can atomic number 82 to infection. For this reason, people should also boil and and so cool their bathing water before using it. You can store the water safely for 1 to 2 days before using it to launder.

Ways that authorities tin can reduce the chance of people becoming infected in loftier-take a chance areas include:

• Reducing the levels of infection: Providing drug treatment to the population can help achieve this.
• Snail control: This may involve the use of chemicals and redesigning or clearing irrigation schemes to make information technology harder for snails to proliferate. Another option is to introduce predators, such as crayfish.

Anyone who travels to or spends time in an area where bilharzia is prevalent should seek medical communication if symptoms appear or if they think they may have been exposed to fresh h2o or the parasite.

allenseliffe1975.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/173081