Schistosomiasis is a disease caused by parasitic flatworms called schistosomes. This disease is spread by contact with fresh water contaminated with parasites like creek or river.
The worm will develop on Snails before it will look for another Human host. They penetrate through your skin and will populate on your bladder, liver or intestine.
If this parasitic worm enters your body It may take up to 30 years to live, according to Dra. Luisa Ticzon in the program “Good Vibes” of DZMM
The urinary tract or the intestines may be infected so signs and symptoms may include abdominal pain, diarrhea, bloody stool or blood in the urine. Those who have been infected for a long time may experience liver damage, kidney failure, infertility or bladder cancer. In children, it may cause poor growth and learning difficulty.
In the Philippines, approximately 12 million Filipinos are affected by schistosomiasis and nearly 2.5 million may have this, according to the Department of Health.
People who are bathing in rivers, streams, creek, and even farmers who are always soaked in the rice fields may have this disease because the ova or egg of the worm will be coming out of humans from urine and feces, then will look for another SNAIL to develop. Then it will look again for human host and the cycle continues.
Other high risk groups include, fishermen and people using unclean water during daily living.
Parasites may penetrate into the skin and they may live inside the body as a worm, explained by Dra. Mirla Taira, a dermatologist.
“Kung ikaw ay lulusong sa isang tabang na tubig, ito ‘yung mga sapa, kanal, mga ilog na mayroong butete, nandoon ang butete ng schistosomiasis, ay puwede na pong pumasok sa inyong pores at balat at doon papasok sa inyong, mainly nandoon po sila sa daanan ng dugo, ‘yung tinatawag na ugat, at doon lalaki na sila at magiging bulate na po ito,” paliwanag ni Taira.
“Papasok na siya sa balat at doon magiging mature worms, bulate. At itong bulate magma-migrate sa atay, mainly sa bituka, daanan ng dumi, ang mature worms ay mangingitlog, kapag idinumi ang itlog, babalik na naman sa mga sapa.”
The first potential reaction if you are infected is an itchy, papular rash that are results from cercariae penetrating the skin, the round bumps are usually one to three centimeters across.
Schistosomiasis is common in 28 provinces in the Philippines including Samar, Leyte, Bohol, Oriental Mindoro, Agusan del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Cagayan, Isabela and region 2, according to Taira.
Avoiding contact with fresh water infested with Schistosome parasites is the best way to prevent it.
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SOURCE: ABS-CBN
