Bilharzia is a parasitic disease caused by worms. It is actually the eggs of the worms that damage the intestines, bladder, and other organs. This disease is the second most frequent in tropical countries. If schistosomiasis is left untreated, serious complications can quickly develop. A person can become infected when their skin comes into contact with contaminated water.
parasites penetrate the skin, then migrate through the body to the blood vessels of the lungs and liver. From there they begin to move through the veins towards the intestine and the bladder. The worms lay their eggs that can be expelled through the urine or feces, or remain in the tissues of the human host. Eggs that remain in the host are usually found in the liver or bladder.
Schistosomiasis: causes
Bilharzia, or schistosomiasis, is usually an infection contracted through contact with contaminated water. The fact is that this parasite is found in bodies of fresh water located outdoors. The moment this parasite comes into contact with a human, after penetrating the skin, it matures and moves on to the next stage. At that time it evolves and begins to migrate to the liver and lungs, at which point it matures and becomes a worm, its adult form.
Depending on the species, this worm moves to one area of the body or another. Typically, these zones are:
- The rectum.
- The intestines.
- The liver.
- The spleen.
- Lungs.
- The veins of the lungs.
It must be said that this is a disease that is not usually observed in Western countries, on the contrary, it is common in subtropical and tropical areas. In fact, it is estimated that nearly 600 million people worldwide are at risk of this infection. Some of the main causes of pollution are as follows:
- Extreme poverty.
- Ignorance of risks.
- The insufficiency or lack of public he alth services.
- Unsanitary living conditions.
- Movements of people from countries where the disease is endemic.
- Rapid urbanization.
Symptoms of Bilharzia
A few days after being infected with the parasite, a rash or itchy skin will begin to appear. One to two months, the person who has been infected may experience fatigue, fever, chills, cough, muscle aches, abdominal pain, diarrhea, dysentery, and blood in the urine. This phase coincides with the maturation of the worms in the body, and is known as fever of Katayama.
Acute schistosomiasis is characterized by the presence of intense itching and spots on the skin that may appear in the first 24 hours after a bath in polluted water. Subsequently, and always after at least two weeks, the patient may present what is called the Katayama syndrome, which consists of fever, chills, headache, lesions generalized measles type, weakness, weight loss, abdominal pain and, in some cases, diarrhea. These symptoms subside gradually but can even last 2 or 3 months. The parasites subsequently migrate to the intestine or urinary bladder producing the symptoms of chronic disease:
- In the intestine they produce bloody diarrhea.
- In the veins of the liver they cause the formation of fluid (ascites) in the abdomen.
- In the urinary bladder they produce bloody urine.
Schistosomiasis: treatment and prevention
For bilharzia, praziquantel is one of the most effective drugs available, especially when this infection is in its acute phase. However, there are also other medications that can be used and are recommended by the WHO, for example, mebendazole or albendazole
However, it should be noted that these drugs do not prevent re-infection, so while it may be a good solution in acute cases, it is not optimal for those who live in areas where this disease is endemic. On the other hand, as with many other parasitic diseases, treatment is almost as important as prevention in these areas.
In this case the prevention is usually the elimination of certain aquatic snails, animals that tend to be natural reservoirs of the parasite and with the prohibition bathing and water consumption in those areas where snails live.
This article is merely informative, at ONsalus.com we do not have the authority to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to go to a doctor in the event of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.
