Schistosomiasis: symptoms, treatment, diagnosis

In medicine, the term "schistosomiasis" is used to characterize the condition of people infected with worms from the genus Schistosoma. You can find another name for this pathology - bilharziasis or Manson's disease. These parasites do pose a danger to human health. The lack of timely treatment can even result in a fatal outcome. In this article, we will describe in more detail the main ways of infection and the forms of such a pathological condition as schistosomiasis.

Description of the disease

Symptoms of this ailment begin with the development of dermatitis. To it subsequently joins a fever and a serious intoxication of all organism. 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 digestive tract, as well as organs of the genitourinary system. The maximum spread of this disease has been in countries with a tropical climate and a low standard of living, where people do not have constant access to clean drinking water. According to available information, at present more than two hundred million people on the planet are already infected. On the territory of the Russian Federation, these indicators are much lower. In general, the diagnosis is confirmed by travelers who have recently returned from a holiday from hot countries. On the African continent, more than two hundred thousand people die each year from the diagnosis of schistosomiasis. Symptoms, treatment and prevention of this disease today attract experts from all over the world.

What triggers the development of ailment?

The causative agents of this disease are the so-called trematodes (flukes of the genus Schistosoma). Direct infection of their larvae, usually occurs when swimming in fresh water bodies or when drinking contaminated water. Eggs of parasites penetrate into the environment along with urine or feces of sick people and animals. Then within five days the eggs develop and begin to be introduced into the mollusks. When the pathogens of the disease grow up a bit, they come out of the body of the mollusc and, being in the aquatic environment, penetrate the human body. Here they reach their sexual maturity, lay eggs in internal organs. Based on the location of the larvae, the intestinal, urogenital and gastrointestinal schistosomiasis are isolated. Symptoms of each form differ.

Intestinal schistosomiasis

Infection occurs during swimming in a pond or in other contact with contaminated water. After 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 afterwards - into the liver. Then 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 actively to lay eggs. On the day of their number increases to 300 pieces. 50 days after infection in the feces of an infected person, signs of trematodes can be detected. Mature forms of parasites can live in the human body for up to 30 years.

How does intestinal schistosomiasis manifest? Symptoms of this form of the disease begin with a strong fever, dermatitis, hives with itching. During direct egg laying, a person may have signs of intoxication (headache, fever, weakness in muscles).

Genitourinary schistosomiasis

Infections of the parasitic type, to which this disease belongs, require special attention. The main place of localization of pathogens of the genitourinary form of the disease is the area of venous plexus of the pelvis. Mature females lay their eggs in the veins of the fallopian tubes, bladder, ureters, and spermatic cord.

The main symptom of this form of the disease is hematuria, that is, the presence of blood impurities in the urine. In particularly serious cases, patients are diagnosed with fibrosis of the bladder. The lack of timely therapy often entails the development of oncology. In representatives of the fair sex, the disease affects mainly the genital organs, which is expressed in the form of erosions, densities and vaginal bleeding. In men, pathology very often causes infertility.

Gastrointestinal schistosomiasis

You can find other names for this pathology: Katayama disease, Japanese schistosomiasis. Symptoms of this form of ailment are similar to the intestinal variant of the disease, but in this case the female parasites lay 10 times more eggs. Damage to the tissues of the stomach and intestines provokes the appearance of fibroses of varying severity.

Especially dangerous is the fulminant stage of the disease, when the likelihood of a lethal outcome increases. It is characterized by the following symptoms: fever, severe allergy symptoms, hypereosinophilia.

At a chronic stage there is a disruption 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 fairly serious disease called cirrhosis develops.

Establishing diagnosis

First of all, doctors are concerned about the signs of schistosomiasis (symptoms). Treatment is prescribed exclusively after a detailed examination. The main indicator for confirming this disease is the presence of helminth eggs in the stool. This situation is observed only during the period of oviposition or at a high intensity of invasion.

Patients are also assigned a blood test, since anemia is possible if the pathology develops.

How to confirm urogenital schistosomiasis? Symptoms of this form of the disease - the main indicator of the presence of parasites in the body. Allergic reactions, hematuria, painful discomfort - all these signs indicate the presence of ailment. Based on the data of radiography and cystoscopy of the genitourinary system, the doctor makes the final diagnosis. Additionally, a biopsy of the bladder itself can be administered.

Necessary therapy

How can I overcome schistosomiasis? Symptoms and treatment for each form may vary. However, today a single drug called Praziquantel is used to treat this disease. This is a modern antiparasitic drug that is used to treat all forms of this pathology. The drug is given once (30 mg per 1 kg of the patient's weight).

When there is an immune-allergic reaction to helminth eggs, corticosteroids are prescribed. With regard to surgical treatment, then his help is resorted to in exceptional cases, for example, with stenosis of the ureter. It is with this problem that patients who are very late in diagnosing schistosomiasis have to face.

Symptoms, diagnosis, treatment are the three components of a literate approach to fighting this pathology. When the appearance of primary signs should immediately seek medical advice from a doctor. After a complete examination, which includes the delivery of tests, appropriate treatment can be prescribed. With this approach, the forecast is almost always favorable.

How to understand that the treatment really helped?

In order to make sure that the therapy was effective (adult parasites in the body were lost), at the end of the course of treatment the doctor can recommend re- testing the stool and urine. In many patients, a duplicate test shows that the eggs continue to be actively allocated, but the larvae themselves have died. This situation is considered normal and can continue for several more months.

On the other hand, if the analysis shows that there are live larvae in the eggs, a second course of treatment is recommended.

Preventive measures

The WHO strategy for combating this disease is based primarily on the recording and treatment of patients with this diagnosis, the use of antihelminthic drugs for people at risk, cleaning water for food and domestic needs. Experts around the world today continue to actively combat this disease.

As for personal preventive measures, going on vacation in hot countries, do not forget about the elementary rules of safety. It is not recommended to swim in dirty water, drink raw water. Thanks to such measures, it is possible to significantly reduce the risk of contracting a disease such as schistosomiasis (bilharziosis). 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 begin treatment.

Conclusion

Unfortunately, today Manson schistosomiasis is increasingly diagnosed among tourists and indigenous people of the African continent. Description, causes, symptoms and methods of treatment of this pathology can be learned 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 bathing 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", specialists distinguish three forms of this ailment. The modern approach to the treatment of the disease makes it possible to forget about this problem forever. The main thing in this matter is to pass the tests in time to confirm the diagnosis and follow the prescriptions of the doctor. Be healthy!