Schistosomiasis

Abstract

This comprehensive overview examines schistosomiasis, a parasitic disease caused by blood flukes of the genus Schistosoma that affects over 251.4 million people worldwide. The disease, transmitted through contact with infested water containing larval forms released by freshwater snails, exists in both intestinal and urogenital forms caused by five main species. Predominantly affecting poor and rural communities in tropical and subtropical areas, particularly in Africa, schistosomiasis causes symptoms ranging from abdominal pain and blood in urine to severe complications including organ damage and cancer. While rarely fatal, the disease significantly impacts quality of life, causing anemia, stunting, and learning difficulties in children, and potentially leading to infertility and chronic health issues in adults. Control strategies focus on large-scale treatment with praziquantel, alongside improving sanitation, water access, and snail control. Despite successful control programs in several countries, challenges persist, including limited drug availability and treatment coverage, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. The WHO coordinates preventive chemotherapy strategies and works with partners to increase access to treatment, aiming for disease elimination as a public health problem and transmission interruption in selected countries by 2030. - AI-generated abstract