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Schistosomiasis is aparasitic infectioncaused by a insect that is commonly found in fresh water bodies in tropical as well as subtropical area . The main causative agent is a parasite/ fluke ( trematode worm ) belonging to the genus Schistosoma . It ranks third in the leaning of most destructive tropical disease in the world particularly in countries such as Africa , South America , Caribbean , Middle East and Asia .
What is Schistosomiasis?
Schistosomiasis is a contagious parasitical disease that was first discovered by a German operating surgeon named Theodore Bilharz . It was first divulge by him in 1851 , when he identified the causative etiological agent Schistoma hemtobium while he was working in Cairo . It is also known by other names such as bilharziasis , bilharzias , or snail febrility .
Symptoms of Schistosomiasis
In a large turn of cases , the parasites may taint the legion , but may not show any signs or symptom . They continue in the body for a long period of time and gradually have legal injury to organ such as thebladder , kidneysand theliver .
There may be tiny flushed bump on the internet site plague , i.e. where the worms enrol the body . However , this wither off in a while . In some cases , the septic person may not show any symptom of bilharzia infection . They may not experience any symptoms for several age ; even though the egg are multiply in the body . While in some cases , the Schistosomiasis symptoms begin to come out within a few weeks . These symptoms of bilharziasis admit :
These are more often than not the symptoms of a consideration called as acute schistosomiasis and they often improve within a few workweek . However , it is authoritative to get it treated at the earliest , as these parasites can rest in the body and lead to complications in the futurity .
Prevalence Rate of Schistosomiasis
It has been estimate that 85 % of the universe subsist in Africa are infected with schistosomiasis at some point in their life history . In damage of planetary estimate , around 200,000 deaths take place due to bilharziasis every year . A amount of 700 million people are at increased risk of develop bilharzia in about 76 countries where this disease is considered to be endemical . After intestinal helminthiasis and malaria , schistosomiasis is the third most effort of morbidness and death rate in the world .
Causes and Risk Factors of Schistosomiasis
Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease and it is primarily because of S. haematobium , S. mansoni and S. japonicum . There are few other species open of causing schistosomiasis in humans , such as S. mekongi and S. intercalatum which are less predominant than antecedently mentioned species . In uncommon occasions , some schistosomes with mammalian and avian primary host may precede to extreme dermatitis in homo and lead to other conditions such as swimmer ’s itch post Trichobilharzia ocellata .
bilharzia is generally caused due to exposure to bilharzia causingwormsthat last in fresh water consistence such as pool , rivers , lake , reservoirs , duct etc . These worms are not bump in sea urine , adequately deal body of water supplies or chlorinated swimming pools . piss supplies that take unfiltered water from undefended water body such as river and ponds have higher chances of spread the disease . Direct contact lens with polluted water whileswimming , washup or wash helps the worms to enter into the body .
Once the louse record the soundbox they position egg indoors . While some leave behind the body with pee and stool , the quietus remain inside the body tissue and multiply further . If left untreated , there will be further times of the causative agents . The nut when guide out from the body into the pee , they hatch into tiny larvae and grow inside freshwater snails . Thus , bilharziasis infection does not transmit by lineal contact lens from the septic individual .
Pathophysiology of Schistosomiasis
Schistosomiasis is caused due to immunologic reaction of the body to Schistosoma orchis trapped within the body tissue paper . These eggs release antigens which spark off a granulomatous chemical reaction involving the tetraiodothyronine cadre , eosinophile , and macrophages which lead to clinical symptoms . The signs and symptoms of the circumstance change ground on the number of eggs and the positioning of the testicle trapped in the tissue . In the initial stages , the rabble-rousing reaction that read topographic point is easy reversible . As the stage continue , there is deposition and accumulation of collagen along with fibrosis which results in organ damage that might only be partially two-sided .
Once the louse figure body , it travels through the blood stream and reaches vital electronic organ such as liver and bowel . The testicle can get trapped in the tissues of peel , muscle , psyche , adrenal glands and even eye . When the eggs penetrate through theurinary systemthey reach the female genital field and they take form granuloma within the fallopian subway , ovaries and the uterus . The embolization of ballock to the brain and spinal corduroy via paravertebral venous rete might also moderate to fundamental nervous system liaison .
Diagnosis and Treatment of Schistosomiasis
Diagnosis of schistosomiasis is done by an experient physician . A thorough aesculapian history is use up to find out history of picture to the causative pathogen and for analysing the live signs and symptom . A blood trial is done to determine for presence of pathogen in blood sample . A throne trial run and urine test is often helpful in reaching to a last as eggs may be watch in urine / stool sample distribution .
Treatment protocol for Schistosomiasis includes light grade of medication called as praziquantel . Praziquantel is usually order after 8 weeks of being infect as this drug is most effective when the worms have develop a bit . Steroids are prescribed for direction of other associated symptom of bilharziasis .
Prognosis of Schistosomiasis
If diagnose early and treated early , the forecast for Schistosomiasis is sound , and the condition meliorate completely with appropriate treatment . Patients who may grow hepatic disorders , urinary offspring and even fibrosis have shown advance with handling and therapy . Renal , enteral and brainiac lesions have also shown improvement but this largely count of the location and sizing of the lesion . Hepato - lienal schistosomiasis also improves with discourse as the hepatic role is preserve till the end of the disease . However , in pillow slip of variceal haemorrhage , there may be complications .
affected role in the terminal stagecoach of portal hypertension and severe pulmonic hypertension are less likely to do good from treatment . Cor pulmonale does not show significant improvement with treatment .
Complications of Schistosomiasis
Schistosomiasis affected role , irrespective of whether they had symptom or not over a period of time can break serious complication , as the eggs may travel to unlike parts of the body . This condition is known as chronic schistosomiasis . It can lead to severe complication base on the site of contagion . These may include :
bilharzia being a leechlike disease can lead to serious health complications . Hence , as before long as the symptoms of bilharzia are observed , one must essay prompt aesculapian help and get the condition handle promptly .
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