Schistosomiasis — Causes, symptoms and treatment of schistosomes

Schistosomiasis (also known as the bilharzia) – a parasitic disease common in the tropics. Is caused by flukes-sistemami that penetrate the skin through water or contact with infected people. The main symptom of the disease – itching, a common skin inflammation. The disease manifests itself as a set of toxico-allergic reactions which can determine the beginning of the disease.

Schistosomiasis often does not lend itself to rapid diagnosis, as it has no specific symptoms and can be confused with other types of diseases. However, other parasitic diseases it is different pronounced symptoms of the skin. In severe damage of the liver, urogenital system and other organs.

Disease in connection with the habitat of the parasite is mostly found in the southern countries of Africa, Asia, South America. It is in these areas become infected with 9/ 10 the entire population of the Earth. But for those who are in other areas, it is not necessary to fear of infection, but the probability is still there, especially after contact with an infected, of which there are more than 230 million. Schistosomiasis ranks second after malaria in the number of deaths.

The types of schistosomes

There are four types of parasites-schistosomes, which differ in habitat, symptoms and mechanism of exposure. Most often, there are two: urogenital and intestinal, while the two remaining paid little attention. The latter is a Japanese schistosomiasis and another shistosoma, incompletely understood and not widespread. Urogenital and intestinal respectively occupy the data region in the body and cause detrimental effect on them and humans in General.

A more detailed description of the types:

Intestinal schistosomiasis. It cause several types of parasites-trematodes. They are found in different areas, respectively, the symptoms differ somewhat across regions. Named in honor of the fact that, penetrating into the body, after reproduction of settle in the intestines and have a major influence on him.

Urinary systoms. The disease begins with getting into the pelvis of the parasite through the venous system. The parasites multiply in the veins near the bladder and in the urinary system, as well as in the fallopian tubes. This parasite inhabits not only in reservoirs but also in wet grass. Was discovered by the scientist and Belgacem, from-for what disease is also called bilharzia. In connection with this type of complications can arise in the field of urinary and reproductive systems, causing infertility, cancer.
Japanese sistemos. Most often, despite the name, is found in the Philippines, and China. Different from intestinal parasite the fact that females have a huge reproductive ability:lay eggs ten times more than a conventional shistosoma, and apply this kind of faster. The symptoms as in case of intestinal schistosomiasis.

The causes of schistosomiasis

The causes of schistosomiasis and many other parasitic diseases are poor hygiene. On the other hand, the disease is characterized by the fact that most often, the parasite gets under the skin through the waters, which in the tropics are numerous. Also carriers of the disease may be animals in contact with infected water, and food, also relate to it. So, reasons may be:

• In the first place – swimming in dirty, not protected waters. Costs cool only where water undergoing disinfection of worms, and the water is not cloudy or have a strange greenish hue
• In contact with infected. After it is enough to touch your lips or eat any fruit and not washing your hands – a parasite will enter the body, triggering thus the disease in humans
• Hand washing is a common condition of the prevention of schistosomiasis, so neglecting them is a huge risk of infection
• Contact with animals is also one of the common causes. Many mammals can also become infected with this parasite, and, through them, the people
• Often forgotten rules of handling food, and lack of thermal or other type of processing allows the larvae of parasites to enter the body. The probability of shistosoma in food is very small, but contact with infected food may be.
• Consumption of fruits andvegetables without washing, increases the risk of disease
• Washing clothes in the same dirty waters
• In General, being around contaminated sites: land and water, e.g., fishing

The mechanism of infection

Mature parasites from the host organism along with feces or urine excrete eggs, which can then go on infecting organisms. They fall into water, where the most favorable environment for their development. Water environment gives the egg to develop to ciliated larvae which infect snails. They are intermediate hosts provide the parasite the conditions for development in tserkariev asexually . Cercaria – larvae are able to move freely in the water. Due to their mobility they can easily penetrate under the skin of the animal, if it is parasites of animals, or under the skin and into the circulatory system of a person. Further, the parasite undergoes the next stage of development already active in the human body, affecting body systems and organs. It is in man, the parasite is divided into two floor and begins reproduction, accompanied by the excretion of eggs into the environment.

Symptom of disease

The symptoms are primarily associated with the skin. There are two types of the disease: chronic and acute. Depending on the symptoms also vary.

Often the original symptom is poor health of the infected. About half a day after infection felt tingling and itching in the skin at the time of settlement of parasites. Itching is associated with rashes or scabies, which began at the site of entry of parasites. Special symptoms peculiar when ingested schistosomes of animals and not humans. They are not able to live in the human epidermis, and therefore dies under a small layer of skin. In this case, itching has much more acute, but the disease, called carcharias, is faster schistosomes. The only unpleasant thing complications in the form of infectious diseases in the delay of treatment.

In the future, people develop the following symptoms of schistosomiasis:

• Swelling at the site of entry of the parasites, not too big.
• Allergies, reminiscent of hives.
• Headaches accompanied by fever.
• Fever accompanied by the chills, irregular temperature, excessive sweating.
• Often found aching pain in the muscles and joints.
• Dry cough.
• Blood clots in the urine.
• The increase in size of the liver.
• In the case of intestinal schistosomiasis are diarrhea, pain in abdomen, blood in the feces.

Most of these symptoms related to severe form of shistosoma, while the initial stage is characterized by a small lesions and weak increased sleepiness. If the symptoms match the above, it is urgent to contact the doctor to save the life of the infected.

Complications of disease

Because the disease threat, it can lead to a number of serious complications, including infertility in both sexes, liver cirrhosis and other problems with her, hydronephrosis. The most serious case is fatal. It can be achieved only when incorrect or no treatment.

A more complete list of complications:

• bladder cancer
• cancer of the reproductive system
• AIDS
• Cancers in other parts of the body

Diagnosis of schistosomiasis

For the diagnosis of the disease is applied the number of tests that give reasonably accurate results. When it comes to deadly diseases, tests must be as accurate as possible.

Apply the analysis of urine, blood, stool, ultrasound, x-ray. The first three tests allow you to find the toxins that are typical for Schistosoma, blood clots in the discharge, the eggs of the parasite. Blood in particular gives an idea of the number and generally the presence of antibodies that appear in case of infection. A large amount of evidence of the exact infection.

X-rays in rare cases, allows you to see whether the infected organs. This is most easily seen in light. Ultrasound directed to the same place: the test bodies, in particular the liver, heart. In severe cases, affected even the brain and the spinal cord. The positive results of ultrasound for parasites constitute grounds to immediately seek treatment. In some situations, require additional examination of the intestine and bladder, namely sampling on the subject of parasites. Constantly testing, studying the size of organs (shistosoma)

Treatment of schistosomiasis

Treatment for schistosomiasis should be done in the shortest possible time that the patient has not experienced complications. Shistosoma to get rid of it, requires intensive treatment.

First and foremost, patientshould be placed in the hospital under constant supervision of a physician. In the case of the possibility of death, this point is undeniable. In the hospital the patient is prescribed a course of medication . Treatment must be under the supervision of a physician because the dosage of drugs must be constantly adjusted. One of the most effective drugs Praziquantel is only two or three days on getting rid of shistosoma and complete treatment. However, not everyone has access to this medication, and in addition to the causes of the disease have to cope with residual symptoms. In some cases, drugs used against intestinal infections, there is already a course of treatment can last over a month. Even a successful recovery for the patient is required to undergo regular examinations and tests is not the subject of parasites. If the larvae are left, treatment to resume immediately.

Unfortunately, medical treatment of shistosoma able to help only in the initial stages of the disease. Further, when starting serious problems with the genitourinary system it is necessary the intervention of the surgeon. Removed foci of occurrence of the stenosis, another complications of disease. If a timely early treatment of schistosomiasis, its symptoms and especially treatment much easier.

Disease prevention

Prevention includes a number of measures associated with the hygiene of the person and the rules of eating. First and foremost, you need to remember about washing hands before eating and especially after the street, because outside the house it is easier to stumble upon an infected. Do not forget that the source of the disease could be right under your nose, in the form of your pet, so after contact with him, don't forget to wash your hands. The most important component of prevention is the observance of the rules of cooking, including adequate heat treatment, and optionally freezing or salting. The foods that need to cook and freeze lose their taste, should be washed or kept in a sterile package when it comes to bread. Do not allow children to walk with untrimmed, dirty fingernails under them accumulate a lot of harmful organisms that can easily fall into the gastrointestinal tract or lick fingers if the nails bite.

In any case, don't fish in ponds which are not under the supervision of the state. Do not wash linen and do not immerse the limb in the pond, if there have been known cases unclear itching after bathing and especially of the disease. Agriculture, including irrigation from the reservoir and contact with the previously watered the earth can also lead to infection, so you need to wear gloves and work only with uncontaminated water, the more it can get to grown the fruit.

It is also important to support the immune system, so that in case the infection symptoms and consequences of schistosomiasis was minimal. Maintaining and improving the immune system involves taking a course of vitamins and minerals, hardening and different set of measures selected individually.