Published: 2014-06-30 years Updated: 2021-08-29
Author: Thomas C. Weiss | Contact: Disabled-World.com
Peer-reviewed publications: N / A
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Summary: Information related to schistosomiasis, also known as snail fever, is a common parasitic disease found in contaminated freshwater. A person becomes infected when their skin comes into contact with fresh water that is contaminated and contains certain types of snails that carry the living parasite. Children with repeated infections may experience anemia, malnutrition, as well as learning difficulties. After being infected for many years, the parasite can also damage a person’s intestines, liver, lungs, spleen, and bladder.
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Main announcement
Schistosomiasis, is an infectious disease caused by parasitic worms in freshwater and is an infection mainly caused by three species of schistosomiasis; Schistosoma mansoni, Schistosoma japonicum and Schistosoma haematobium. S. japonicum is the most infectious of the three species. Once the parasite has entered the body and begins to produce eggs, it uses the host’s immune system. (granuloma) to transport eggs into the intestine. People at risk of infection from S. japonicum are farmers who regularly wade in their irrigation water, fishermen wading in streams and lakes, children playing in the water, and people washing clothes in streams. Freshwater snails are also infected with this parasite during its life cycle, and people who come into contact with freshwater containing these snails are at risk of infection.
The statistics regarding snail fever are astounding:
- 700,000,000 people at risk
- 74 countries discovered snail fever
- 240,000,000 people have been infected
Snail fever is second only to malaria as the most common parasitic disease and the most fatal NTD. It kills about 280,000 people a year in the African region alone.
The disease can start with blood in a person’s urine or remain, as well as anemia and growth and development problems in children. This disease can eventually become life-threatening because of health effects such as kidney problems, liver problems and bladder cancer. Children with long-term or repeated infections can develop anemia and malnutrition, which can contribute to lost days at school as well as severe learning disabilities. Efforts to control snail fever include treating infected individuals with a drug called ‘praziquantel’, as well as proper urine and faecal disposal.
Risk factors for snail fever
Snail fever is an important cause of disease in some parts of the world, often in areas with poor sanitation. School-age children living in these areas are often at greatest risk because they tend to spend time bathing or swimming in water containing infectious cercariae bacteria. If you live in or travel to areas where snail fever is detected and are exposed to contaminated fresh water – you are at risk.
Areas Where Snail Sauce Can Be Found Include:
- S. intercalatum : Found in parts of West and Central Africa.
- S. mekongi : A type of snail with sauce found in Laos and Cambodia.
- S. japonicum : A type of snail sauce found in parts of China, Southeast Asia, as well as Indonesia.
- S. haematobium : Distributed throughout Africa. Freshwater poses a risk of infection in both southern and sub-Saharan Africa, including large rivers, lakes, and smaller bodies of water. Transmission also occurs in the Nile valley in Egypt and the Mahgreb region of North Africa. This snail fever is also found in parts of the Middle East.
- Schistosoma mansoni : Distributed throughout Africa. There is a risk of infection in freshwater in southern and sub-Saharan Africa, including large rivers and lakes, as well as smaller bodies of water. Transmission also occurs in the Nile valley in Egypt and Sudan. This particular snail sauce is also found in South America, including Brazil, Venezuela and Suriname. The Caribbean has a low risk of this snail fever; Guadeloupe, Dominican Republic, Saint Lucia and Martinique also have this snail craze.
A person becomes infected when their skin comes into contact with fresh water that is contaminated and contains certain types of snails that carry the living parasite. Fresh water is contaminated with snail eggs when an infected person urinates or defecates in the water. The eggs hatch and if the right snail is in the water – the parasite will infect, grow and then multiply inside the snail.
The parasite eventually leaves the snail and enters the water, where it is capable of surviving for about 48 hours. The snail fever parasite can enter the skin of a person exposed to contaminated fresh water, usually when they swim, wade, wash or bathe. Over a number of weeks, the parasite moves through the host tissue and develops into an adult worm inside the blood vessels of the human body. Once they are adults, these worms mate and the females produce eggs. Some eggs travel to a person’s bladder or intestines and are transferred into the person’s urine or stool.
Common symptoms of snail fever
The symptoms of snail fever are not caused by the worms, but by the patient’s body’s response to the eggs. Eggs released by adult worms that do not leave the body of an infected person can become trapped in the person’s bladder or intestines, causing inflammation or scarring. Children with repeated infections may experience anemia, malnutrition, as well as learning difficulties. After being infected for many years, the parasite can also damage a person’s intestines, liver, lungs, spleen, and bladder.
The majority of people do not experience any symptoms when they are first infected. Within a few days of being infected; however, they may have itchy skin or a rash. Within 1-2 months of being infected, symptoms such as chills, fever, cough, and muscle aches can develop.
Diagnosis and Treatment of Snail Fever
To diagnose snail fever, a person’s urine or feces can be examined under a microscope for parasite eggs. Eggs often pass intermittently and in small numbers and may go undetected, meaning blood tests may be needed.
Fortunately, there is a safe and effective medication to treat both intestinal and urinary fever. Praziquantel is a prescription medicine taken for 1-2 days to treat infections caused by snail fever. Without treatment, snail fever can last for many years. Signs and symptoms of chronic snail fever may include:
- Big liver
- Stomachache
- Problems urinating
- Increased risk of bladder cancer
- Blood in a person’s urine or stool
Rarely, eggs can be found in a person’s spinal cord or brain and can cause seizures, paralysis, or inflammation of the spinal cord.
Prevent Snail Fever
Sadly, there is no vaccine against snail fever. The best way to prevent snail fever is to take the following steps if you live there or are visiting an area where snail fever is contagious.
- Avoid wading or swimming in fresh water when you are in waters with snail fever.
- Bath water should be boiled for 1 minute to kill cercariae bacteria and then allowed to cool before bathing to avoid burns. The water is kept in the tank for at least 1-2 days so it is safe for bathing.
- Vigorously drying a towel after accidental or very rapid exposure to water can help prevent snail fever parasites from entering human skin. Do not; however, just dry with a strong towel to avoid getting snail fever.
- Drink safe water. Although snail fever is not transmitted by swallowing contaminated water, if your lips or mouth come into contact with water containing the parasite, you can become infected. Since water directly from lakes, canals, creeks, streams, rivers or streams can be contaminated with a variety of infectious organisms, it is recommended that you boil the water for 1 minute or filter it before drinking. Boiling water for at least a minute will kill any harmful bacteria, parasites or viruses in the water. Iodine treatment only Does not guarantee safe water and is free of parasites.
People who have been exposed to potentially contaminated water should see their healthcare provider to discuss testing for snail fever parasites.
Control Snail Fever
In countries where snail fever causes significant epidemics, efforts to control it often focus on a few different things. Reducing the number of infections in humans and eliminating the snails needed to maintain the parasite’s life cycle are at the top of this list. For all fever snails, improved sanitation can reduce or eliminate disease transmission. In some areas with lower levels of transmission, the eradication of snail fever is seen as a battle that can be won by public health officials.
Control measures may even include mass drug treatment for entire communities as well as targeted treatment for school-age children. Chemicals used to eradicate snails in freshwater sources can be harmful to other animals in the water, and if treatment is not maintained – the snails can return to the site later. there. For some species of parasites, animals such as buffalo or cows can also become infected. Water runoff from pastures, if cows are infected, can contaminate freshwater sources.
Author credentials:
Thomas C. Weiss is a researcher and editor for Disabled World. Thomas attended college and university courses for a Master’s, Bachelor’s and two Associate’s degrees, as well as studying Disability Studies. As a Nursing Assistant, Thomas has supported people of many racial, religious, gender, class and age groups by providing care to people with all forms of disabilities. disability from Multiple Sclerosis to Parkinson’s; paralysis and quadriplegia for spina bifida.
Disability World is an independent disability community founded in 2004 to provide disability news and information to people with disabilities, seniors, their families and/or carers. . Check out our homepage for helpful news, reviews, sports, stories and guides. You can also connect with us on Twitter and Facebook or learn more about Disability World on our about us page.
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• Citation of this Page (APA): Thomas C. Weiss. (2014, June 30). Schistosomiasis: Snail fever, a common parasitic disease. The world of people with disabilities. Accessed October 28, 2022 from www.disabled-world.com/health/schistosomiasis.php
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