What is it:Schistosomiasis, also called bilharzia
(bill-HAR-zi-a), is a disease caused by parasitic worms.
They currently infect over 200m people each year, and the
number of people infected increases.
Where am I most likely to catch Bilharzia?
Africa: Southern Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, Lake Malawi,
the Nile River valley in Egypt, Latin America: Brazil,
Suriname, Venezuela, Antigua, Dominican Republic,
Guadeloupe, Caribbean: Martinique, Montserrat, Puerto Rico,
Saint Lucia (risk is low), Middle East: Iran, Iraq, Saudi
Arabia, Syrian Arab Republic, Yemen, Southern China,
Southeast Asia: Philippines, Laos, Cambodia, Japan, central
Indonesia, and the Mekong delta.
How do I get it: by paddling, swimming, washing
or drinking fresh water. Fresh water becomes contaminated
by Schistosoma eggs when infected people urinate or
defecate in the water. The eggs hatch, and if certain types
of snails are present in the water, the parasites grow and
develop inside the snails. The parasite leaves the snail
and enters the water where it can survive for about 48
hours. The schistosoma parasites can penetrate the
skin of persons who have contact with the water.
What happens next: within several weeks, worms
grow inside the blood vessels of the body and produce eggs.
Some of these eggs travel to the bladder or intestines and
are passed into the urine or stool.
What are the symptoms: symptoms of
schistosomiasis are caused by the body’s reaction to the
eggs produced by worms, not by the worms themselves. Within
days after becoming infected, you may develop a rash or
itchy skin. Fever, chills, cough, and muscle aches can
begin within 1-2 months of infection. Most people have no
symptoms at this early phase of infection.
How do I cure it: your doctor will ask you to
provide stool or urine samples to see if you have the
parasite. A blood test has been developed and is available
but for accurate results, you must wait 6-8 weeks after
your last exposure to contaminated water before the blood
sample is taken. Safe and effective drugs are available for
the treatment of schistosomiasis. You will be given pills
to take for 1-2 days.
How can I prevent getting Bilharzia:
- Don’t swim in infected water
- For washing or bathing, use water that has been heated
to 50oC or more for at least 5 minutes or water
chemical disinfected.
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