How to Prevent Schistosomiasis

Any of five species of flatworms in the Schistosoma genus causes Schistosomiasis. It infects 200 million people worldwide, making it the second most common tropical disease after malaria. Certain species of freshwater snails host an immature form of Schistosoma until it infects a human through contaminated water. The worms mature inside the human host and the fertilized eggs are passed out in the feces. Here's how to prevent schistosomiasis.

Instructions

• 1

  Provide artemether every two to four weeks as a prophylactic agent.

• 2

  Drink bottled or treated water when traveling to endemic areas. Water should be boiled for 1 minute or filtered. Freshwater should be avoided even for swimming, but saltwater and chlorinated swimming pools are generally safe. Bath water should be heated to 150 degrees F for 5 minutes. Vigorous towel drying may help against brief exposure to contaminated water.

• 3

  Treat patients for schistosomiasis promptly upon diagnosis or even if clinical suspicion is high. Schistosomiasis should be suspected whenever there is a history of recent fresh water contact in an endemic area.

• 4

  Control schistosomiasis in endemic areas. A large scale program should include chemical prophylaxis for the entire population, creation and maintenance of safe water supplies, and control of the freshwater snail population. A health education program should provide procedures for improving water sanitation and avoidance of urine or stool contaminated with schistosomes.

• 5

  Stay informed on clinical trials with human volunteers to develop a vaccine against schistosomiasis.