Schistosomiasis

Schistosomiasis is a disease caused by Schistosoma blood flukes, whose larvae penetrate human skin in contaminated freshwater. Chronic infection can damage the intestines, liver, urinary tract, or other organs.

Schistosoma: Schistosoma is a genus of parasitic flatworms whose adult blood-dwelling species cause schistosomiasis. These flukes cause the disease and develop through human and freshwater-host stages.
Intestinal schistosomiasis: Intestinal schistosomiasis is infection in which schistosome eggs cause inflammation and damage in the bowel and nearby organs. Schistosoma mansoni and related species commonly produce this form.
Praziquantel: Praziquantel is an antiparasitic medicine used to treat infections caused by many flukes and tapeworms. It is the main medicine used to treat schistosomiasis, though reinfection remains possible.
Portal hypertension: Portal hypertension is abnormally elevated blood pressure in the portal venous system, which carries blood to the liver. Liver fibrosis from chronic intestinal schistosomiasis can obstruct portal blood flow.
Fascioliasis: Fascioliasis is a parasitic disease caused by liver flukes of the genus Fasciola, usually acquired by eating contaminated aquatic plants. Unlike schistosomiasis, infection usually follows ingestion rather than skin penetration.
Cercaria: A cercaria is a free-swimming larval stage of a trematode parasite, often equipped with a tail. Schistosome cercariae leave snails and penetrate human skin in freshwater.
Urogenital schistosomiasis: Urogenital schistosomiasis is infection that primarily affects the bladder, urinary tract, or reproductive organs. Schistosoma haematobium eggs lodge in urinary tissues and can cause bleeding.
Kato–Katz technique: The Kato–Katz technique is a thick-smear microscopy method for detecting and counting parasite eggs in stool. It is commonly used to diagnose intestinal schistosomiasis and estimate infection intensity.
Bladder cancer: Bladder cancer is a malignant tumor arising from cells lining or forming the bladder wall. Chronic Schistosoma haematobium infection is associated with increased risk of squamous cell carcinoma.
Onchocerciasis: Onchocerciasis is a parasitic disease caused by Onchocerca volvulus and transmitted by blackflies. Both diseases can occur in tropical regions, but onchocerciasis is insect-borne.

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