Schistosomiasis
Long-term problems caused by schistosomiasis
Some people with schistosomiasis, regardless of whether they had any initial symptoms or not, eventually develop more serious problems in parts of the body the eggs have travelled to.
This is known as chronic schistosomiasis.
Chronic schistosomiasis can includea range of symptoms and problems, depending on the exact area that's infected. For example, an infection in the:
- digestive system can cause anaemia , abdominal pain and swelling, diarrhoea andblood in yourpoo
- urinary system can cause irritation of the bladder( cystitis ), pain when peeing, a frequent need to pee, and blood in your urine
- heart and lungs can cause a persistent cough, wheezing, shortness of breath and coughing up blood
- nervous system or brain can causeseizures (fits), headaches , weakness and numbness in your legs, and dizziness
Without treatment, affected organs can become permanently damaged.
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018
Introduction
Read about schistosomiasis, also known as bilharzia, is a type of infection caused by a parasitic worm that live in fresh water in subtropical and tropical regions.
How you get schistosomiasis
The worms that cause schistosomiasis live in fresh water, such as: ponds lakes rivers reservoirs canals Showers that take unfiltered water directly from lakes or rivers may also spread the inf
Symptoms of schistosomiasis
Many people with schistosomiasis don't have any symptoms, or don't experience any for several months or even years. You probably won't notice that you've been infected, although occasionally people g
Long-term problems caused by schistosomiasis
Some people with schistosomiasis, regardless of whether they had any initial symptoms or not, eventually develop more serious problems in parts of the body the eggs have travelled to. This is known a
When to seek medical advice
Visityour GP if you develop the symptoms above and you've travelled in parts of the world where schistosomiasis is found, or if you're concerned that you may have been exposedto the parasites while tr
Treatments for schistosomiasis
Schistosomiasis can usually be treatedsuccessfullywith a short course of a medication called praziquantel, that kills the worms. Praziquantel is most effective once the worms have grown a bit, so tre
Preventing schistosomiasis
There's no vaccine for schistosomiasis, so it's important to be aware of the risks andtake precautions to avoid exposure to contaminated water. You can check whether thearea you're visiting is known
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