Bilharzia (Schistosomiasis)

Bilharzia (schistosomiasis) is an infectious disease that is caused by a worm, and it’s a serious condition if left untreated.

Bilharzia (schistosomiasis)

Bilharzia (schistosomiasis) is a parasitic infection that’s caused by a type of worm called Schistosoma. Bilharzia (schistosomiasis) is mostly found in Africa, but it can also be found in other areas.

Causes of bilharzia (schistosomiasis)

• Many species of Schistosoma can cause bilharzia, and they are found in clean water, like rivers and lakes. The eggs are released in the water when a patient urinates or defecates in it.
• A person can get infected with bilharzia when swimming in this water, bathing with it, washing clothes with it, drinking it, or fishing in it. The worms enter the body through the skin.

Symptoms of bilharzia (schistosomiasis)

Symptoms of bilharzia (schistosomiasis) usually take time to appear, but the only symptom that manifests immediately is itching or a rash where the worms entered.

After a few weeks or months of getting infected, the patient may have flu-like symptoms.

When the worms spread to the organs, they cause:

• Digestive issues, including diarrhea, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, bloody vomit, and black stool.
• Urinary problems, including difficulty urinating, bloody urine, and urine leakage.
• Lower back pain.
• Abnormal vaginal discharge.
• Bloody or painful ejaculation.
• Pain during intercourse.
• Shortness of breath.
• Neurological symptoms in rare cases.
• If left untreated, bilharzia can lead to intestinal infection, enlarged spleen or liver, scarring and infection in the urinary tract and bladder, scarring and granulomas in the genitals, encephalopathy, anemia, and eventually bladder cancer.

Diagnosis of bilharzia (schistosomiasis)

• Urine or stool tests.
• Blood tests.

Treatment of bilharzia (schistosomiasis)

• Drugs for worms.
• The risk of bilharzia can be reduced by not drinking water that you’re not sure of its sterility, not swimming in water where schistosomiasis is spread, and boiling water before drinking if you’re not sure of it.