Schistosomiasis
Schistosomiasis - also called bilharzia - is caused by infection with a worm belonging to the family called trematodes. These flatworms, also called flukes, are produced in the body of freshwater snails, and released into the water. They are very motile and can penetrate the intact human skin of people swimming in the water. Having penetrated the skin (often causing a rash which lasts a few days, called swimmers itch) they migrate via the bloodstream and develop into adult worms, which live in veins in the gut or around the bladder. The worm’s eggs are secreted in the urine or stools. There may be symptoms affecting the urinary tract, the gut, the kidney or the nervous system. Blood tests to look for antibodies may show evidence of infection, or eggs may be detected in the urine. Treatment is available to eradicate infection.
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