In medicine, the term "schistosomiasis" is used to characterize the condition of people infected with worms from the genus Schistosoma. You can also find another name for this pathology - bilharzia or Manson's disease. These parasites are indeed a danger to human he alth. Lack of timely treatment can even result in death. In this article, we will talk in more detail about the main routes of infection and the forms of such a pathological condition as schistosomiasis.
Description of disease
The symptoms of this disease begin with the development of dermatitis. Fever and serious intoxication of the whole organism subsequently join it. The clinical picture in this disease is due to the development of an immunoallergic reaction to parasite eggs.
Schistosomiasis is a chronic disease that causes damage to the gastrointestinal tract, as well as the organs of the genitourinary system. This disease is most widespread in countries with a tropical climate and low living standards, where people do not have constant access to clean drinking water. According to available information, currentlyCurrently, more than two hundred million people on the planet are already infected. On the territory of the Russian Federation, these figures are noticeably lower. Basically, the diagnosis is confirmed in travelers who have recently returned from vacations from hot countries. On the African continent, more than two hundred thousand people die every year from a diagnosis of schistosomiasis. Symptoms, treatment and prevention of this disease today attract the attention of specialists from all over the world.
What provokes the development of the disease?
The so-called trematodes (flukes of the genus Schistosoma) are recognized as the causative agents of this disease. Direct infection with their larvae, as a rule, occurs when swimming in fresh water or when drinking contaminated water. Parasite eggs enter the environment along with the urine or faeces of sick people and animals. Then, within five days, the eggs develop and begin to penetrate into the mollusks. When the pathogens grow up a little, they leave the body of the mollusk and, being in the aquatic environment, penetrate the human body. Here they reach their sexual maturity, lay eggs in the internal organs. Based on the location of the larvae, intestinal, genitourinary and gastrointestinal schistosomiasis are isolated. The symptoms of each form are different.
Intestinal schistosomiasis
Infection occurs while swimming in a pond or other contact with contaminated water. After the penetration of parasites into the skin, they begin to migrate through the blood and lymphatic vessels. On the seventh day of stay in the body, trematodes enter the heart and lungs,and then to the liver. Then the helminths penetrate into the so-called mesenteric venules, where they continue to ripen for 40 days. At the end of this time, the female begins to actively lay eggs. Their number increases to 300 pieces per day. 50 days after infestation, signs of trematodes can be detected in the feces of an infected person. Mature forms of parasites can live in the human body for up to 30 years.
How does intestinal schistosomiasis manifest itself? Symptoms of this form of the disease begin with high fever, dermatitis, urticaria with itching. During the direct laying of eggs, a person may show signs of intoxication (headache, fever, muscle weakness).
Urinary schistosomiasis
Infections of the parasitic type, which include this disease, require special attention. The main place of localization of pathogens of the genitourinary form of the disease is the area of the venous plexus of the small pelvis. Mature females lay their eggs in the veins of the fallopian tubes, bladder, ureters and spermatic cords.
The main symptom of this form of the disease is hematuria, that is, the presence of blood in the urine. In especially serious cases, patients are diagnosed with bladder fibrosis. The lack of timely therapy often leads to the development of oncology. In the fair sex, the disease affects mainly the genital organs, which is expressed in the form of erosions, seals and vaginal bleeding. In men, pathology very often causesinfertility.
Gastrointestinal schistosomiasis
You can also find other names for this pathology: Katayama's disease, Japanese schistosomiasis. Symptoms of this form of the disease are similar to the intestinal variant of the disease, however, in this case, female parasites lay 10 times more eggs. Damage to the tissues of the stomach and intestines provokes the appearance of fibrosis of varying severity.
The fulminant stage of the disease is especially dangerous, when the likelihood of death increases. It is characterized by the following symptoms: fever, severe allergy symptoms, hypereosinophilia.
In the chronic stage, there is a violation of the normal activity of the gastrointestinal tract, acute pain in the abdomen, diarrhea with blood, enlargement of the liver. Approximately five years after infection, a rather serious disease called cirrhosis develops.
Diagnosis
First of all, doctors are concerned about what signs accompany schistosomiasis (symptoms). Treatment is prescribed only after a detailed examination. The main indicator for confirming this disease is the presence of helminth eggs in the feces. This situation is observed only during the laying period or with a high intensity of invasion.
Also, patients are prescribed a blood test, since anemia is possible if this pathology develops.
How to confirm urogenital schistosomiasis? The symptoms of this form of the disease are the main indicator of the presence of parasites in the body. Allergic reactions, hematuria, paindiscomfort - all these signs indicate the presence of an ailment. Based on the X-ray data and cystoscopy of the genitourinary system, the doctor makes the final diagnosis. Additionally, a biopsy of the bladder itself may be prescribed.
Essential Therapy
How can schistosomiasis be overcome? Symptoms and treatment for each form may vary. Today, however, a single drug called Praziquantel is used to treat this disease. This is a modern antiparasitic agent that is used to treat all forms of this pathology. The drug is prescribed once (30 mg per 1 kg of the patient's weight).
When an immunoallergic reaction to helminth eggs occurs, corticosteroids are prescribed. As for surgical treatment, it is resorted to in exceptional cases, for example, with stenosis of the ureter. This is the problem faced by patients diagnosed with schistosomiasis very late.
Symptoms, diagnosis, treatment - these are the three components of a competent approach to combating this pathology. When primary symptoms appear, you should immediately seek medical advice. After a complete examination, which includes testing, appropriate treatment can be prescribed. With this approach, the forecast is almost always favorable.
How do you know if the treatment really helped?
To make sure the therapy iseffective (adult parasites in the body died), at the end of the course of treatment, the doctor may recommend re-analysis of feces and urine. In many patients, a duplicate test shows that the eggs continue to be actively shed, but the larvae themselves have died. This situation is considered normal and may continue for several more months.
On the other hand, if the analysis shows that live larvae are present in the eggs, a second course of treatment is recommended.
Preventive measures
The WHO strategy to combat this disease is based primarily on the registration and treatment of patients with such a diagnosis, the use of anthelmintic drugs for people at risk, water purification for food and household needs. Specialists around the world today continue to actively fight this disease.
As for personal preventive measures, when going on vacation to hot countries, do not forget about basic safety rules. It is not recommended to swim in dirty reservoirs, drink raw water. Thanks to such measures, you can significantly reduce the risk of contracting a disease such as schistosomiasis (bilharziasis). Symptoms of the disease (allergic reaction, fever, itching all over the body) should alert and become a reason for seeking qualified help. If the diagnosis is confirmed, you should immediately take tests and start treatment.
Conclusion
Unfortunately, today more and more tourists and indigenous people of the African continent are diagnosed with schistosomiasisManson. Description, causes, symptoms and methods of treatment of this pathology can be found by reading this article. This disease is characterized by the appearance of signs of general intoxication of the body, dermatitis and urticaria. The main reason for its occurrence is swimming in polluted water bodies. Parasites living in water are able to penetrate the human body and lay eggs in the organs. Depending on the chosen "place", experts distinguish three forms of this disease. The modern approach to the treatment of the disease allows you to forget about such a problem forever. The main thing in this matter is to pass tests in a timely manner to confirm the diagnosis and strictly follow the doctor's instructions. Stay he althy!
