Schistosomiasis
Description:
Schistosomiasis ( bilhariasis or snail fever) has long been one of the important tropical diseases in country. It caused by a blood fluke, Schistosoma Japonicum that is transmitted by a tiny snail oncomelania quadrasi. It affects mostly farmers and their families in the rural area and due to the chronicity of the disease, it results in manpower losses and lessened agricultural productivity.
Signs and symptoms
Infectious agents:
Schistosoma mansoni, S. haematobium and 51: japonicum
Mode of Transmission:
The disease transmitted to a person through bites from an infected female mosquito primarily Aedes poecilius that bites at night.
Incubation period:
The incubation period which starts from the entry of the infective larvae to the development of clinical manifestation is variable. Nevertheless, it ranges from 8-16 months.
Prevention:
No vaccine is available.
The best way to prevent schistosomiasis is to take the following steps if you are visiting or live in an area where schistosomiasis is transmitted:
Those who have had contact with potentially contaminated water overseas should see their health care provider after returning from travel to discuss testing.
Schistosomiasis ( bilhariasis or snail fever) has long been one of the important tropical diseases in country. It caused by a blood fluke, Schistosoma Japonicum that is transmitted by a tiny snail oncomelania quadrasi. It affects mostly farmers and their families in the rural area and due to the chronicity of the disease, it results in manpower losses and lessened agricultural productivity.
Signs and symptoms
- Diarrhea
- Bloody stools
- Enlargement of abdomen
- Spleenomegaly
- Weakness
- Anemia
- Inflamed liver
Infectious agents:
Schistosoma mansoni, S. haematobium and 51: japonicum
Mode of Transmission:
The disease transmitted to a person through bites from an infected female mosquito primarily Aedes poecilius that bites at night.
Incubation period:
The incubation period which starts from the entry of the infective larvae to the development of clinical manifestation is variable. Nevertheless, it ranges from 8-16 months.
Prevention:
No vaccine is available.
The best way to prevent schistosomiasis is to take the following steps if you are visiting or live in an area where schistosomiasis is transmitted:
- Avoid swimming or wading in freshwater when you are in countries in which schistosomiasis occurs. Swimming in the ocean and in chlorinated swimming pools is safe.
- Drink safe water. Although schistosomiasis is not transmitted by swallowing contaminated water, if your mouth or lips come in contact with water containing the parasites, you could become infected. Because water coming directly from canals, lakes, rivers, streams, or springs may be contaminated with a variety of infectious organisms, you should either bring your water to a rolling boil for 1 minute or filter water before drinking it. Bring your water to a rolling boil for at least 1 minute will kill any harmful parasites, bacteria, or viruses present. Iodine treatment alone WILL NOT GUARANTEE that water is safe and free of all parasites.
- Water used for bathing should be brought to a rolling boil for 1 minute to kill any cercariae, and then cooled before bathing to avoid scalding. Water held in a storage tank for at least 1 - 2 days should be safe for bathing.
- Vigorous towel drying after an accidental, very brief water exposure may help to prevent the Schistosoma parasite from penetrating the skin. However, do not rely on vigorous towel drying alone to prevent schistosomiasis.
Those who have had contact with potentially contaminated water overseas should see their health care provider after returning from travel to discuss testing.
