Schistosomaisis, or snail fever is a disease affecting many people in developing countries. Although it has a low mortality rate, schistosomiasis is very debilitating. An estimated 200 million people have the disease, 120 million symptomatic. A few countries have erradicated the disease, and many more are working towards it. The World Health Organization is working towards this goal.
There are 5 species of flatworms that cause schistosomiasis. Each causes a different clinical presentation of the disease
- Schistosoma mansoni and S. intercalatum cause intestinal schistosomiasis
- Schistosoma haematobium causes urinary schistosomiasis
- Schistosoma japonicum and S. mekongi cause Asian intestinal schistosomiasis
Prevention:
In agricultural societies, the is impossible.In more advanced industrialized countires, contorlles urbanization has reduced exposure sites, with a sonsequent decrease in new infections.
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