Bilharzia

A parasitic worm infects bowel or urinary tract, causing bilharzia. There are five types of worms, which belong to Schistosoma family. Therefore, Schistosomiasis is another name for bilharzias. It occurs commonly in Africa, South America, Middle East, Southeast Asia, Southern China and Caribbean. It affects children more than adults. It spreads through water.

What are the causes of bilharzias

This mainly spreads through water. Certain water snails are vehicles for these worms. The water containing schistosomiasis transfers these worms to you if you swim in that water, drink it or use the food cleaned with this water.

Fresh water receives eggs through people infected with biharzia. These eggs in the water produce worms, which thrive on water snails. The larvae released into the water catch the skin of people using this water. The larvae then get into the blood stream and reach the lungs and liver first, and finally the bowel and bladder through veins. Here also they reproduce and multiply.
The eggs laid by these worms come out through stools or urine.

Is it contagious,

It is not contagious, as the worms can complete their life cycle in water, containing certain snails, which harbour them.

What are the symptoms of bilharzia

As there are different species of this worm, symptoms also differ accordingly. It differs with the severity of infection too. The body reacts to the eggs produced by the worms, resulting in symptoms. Symptoms appear within a few hours after infection, as rash or itching of the skin. When the worms multiply and produce more eggs, further symptoms including fever, tiredness, cough, muscle pain, and chills occur. It can cause swelling of liver and spleen. When the eggs gain entry into the urinary tract, the symptom may be urination with blood.

How bilharzias infection is diagnosed

If you have contacted the water contaminated with these worms and if you have the relevant the symptoms after that, you should see a doctor for diagnosis. You may be referred to a specialist treating infectious diseases or a specialist in tropical medicine. A medical check up with special focus to this problem is necessary even if you do not have such symptoms.

The doctor may ask you about the places you have travelled to know the possibilities of infection. The doctor checks for symptoms such as rash or blood in urine. You may have to provide urine or stools sample to find out presence of eggs. The doctor may need the blood sample only after a few months after you getting infected, as the eggs take around forty days to mature. If you have symptoms in the intestine, a biopsy of the rectum is taken for analysis.

How bilharzia is treated

Even the advances stages of this infection are treated successfully with a brief course of praziquantel. However, this will not ensure reoccurrence. The travellers should be aware that fake medicines are also available. The treatment generally eradicates this problem if the treatment is in time.

What happens if I do not have treatment

Untreated bilharzia can lead to ulcers or bleeding in the intestine/bladder. It can also cause damage to liver, kidney failure or cancer. Damage to vital organs such as lungs and heart is not ruled out.