Snail fever

Snail Fever, also known as Schistosomiasis, is a disease caused by parasitic flatworms called Schistosomes. The urinary tract or the intestines may be infected. Symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, bloody stool, or blood in the urine. Those who have been infected for a long time may experience liver damage, kidney failure, infertility, or bladder cancer. In children, it may cause poor growth and learning difficulty.

Transmission

The disease is spread by contact with fresh water contaminated with the parasites. These parasites are released from infected freshwater snails. The disease is especially common among children in developing countries as they are more likely to play in contaminated water. Other high-risk groups include farmers, fishermen, and people using unclean water during daily living.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Diagnosis is by finding eggs of the parasite in a person's urine or stool. It can also be confirmed by finding antibodies in the blood.

Treatment is with the medication praziquantel. Efforts to prevent the disease include improving access to clean water and reducing the number of snails. In areas where the disease is common, the medication may be given once a year to the entire group.

Epidemiology

Epidemiologically, the disease affects many tropical and subtropical areas. More than 200 million people are infected. It is most common in Africa, Asia, and South America.

See Also

• Parasitic diseases
• Tropical diseases
• Waterborne diseases

References

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