Schistosomiasis

Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease that mainly affects poor and rural communities, especially agricultural and fishing populations.

Patients most commonly present with complications of chronic infection; either genitourinary or intestinal symptoms depending on the Schistosoma species.

Diagnosis is made by microscopic visualisation of eggs in stools or urine; supplemental approaches include serological testing or biopsy of affected tissues (rectum or bladder) for detection of parasite eggs.

Praziquantel is the preferred treatment for all schistosome infections. At-risk communities in endemic areas are given preventive chemotherapy with praziquantel.

Serious complications of chronic infection include anaemia, portal hypertension, genital disease, renal failure, seizures, spinal cord compression, and neoplasms.

A snail-borne parasitic disease caused by multicellular trematodes of the Schistosoma blood fluke species.[1]King CH. Schistosomiasis. In: Guerrant RL, Walker DH, Weller PF, eds. Tropical infectious diseases: principles, pathogens and practice. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Churchill Livingstone; 2001:1341-8. It is acquired through skin exposure to freshwater that harbours infectious schistosome larval forms known as cercariae.[2]World Health Organization. Schistosomiasis (Bilharzia). 2022 [internet publication]. https://www.who.int/health-topics/schistosomiasis#tab=tab_1 ​ Cercariae are released by aquatic snails that are the parasite's intermediate host.[3]Sturrock RF. The schistosomes and their intermediate hosts. In: Mahmoud AAF, ed. Schistosomiasis. London, UK: Imperial College Press; 2001:7-83.