Schistosomiasis Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Schistosomiasis - Term Paper Exampleal 2013). cardinal part of the world that has been seriously affected by various types of disorders lowlife be said to be Africa and one common disease that is found in the tropical segments of this continent is Schistosomiasis. What is Schistosomiasis? Schistosomiasis is more than popularly cognize as bilharzia or snail fever and refers to several parasitic ailments (The Carter Center, 2013). The anatomy is derived from the fact that the parasitic diseases can be caused by a spell of trematodes species that belong to a genus known as Schistosoma (Thetiot-Laurent et. al 2013). It is also called snail fever because snails happen to act as intermediaries amidst hosts (that is, hosts that argon categorized under mammals.). The snails can be said to carry the disease and affect those who whitethorn come into contact with them or their surrounding environment such as small water bodies (Crichton-Harris, 2009). The infected snails contaminate t he water that they are in and when this water is used by an individual, they open themselves up to the casualty of getting infected. Its contraction through contaminate water is one of the reasons that this disease is a problem in Africa as many individuals from rural regions do non get access to sanitized water and consequently are at a greater risk of being infected due to their environment. Non-sanitized water is a big problem in many parts of Africa and thus diseases such as bilharzia have a greater transmission rate as compared to separate regions in the world (James et. al 2006). In most cases schistosomiasis is a chronic illness that can have a serious result on those who contract it. The disease has the capability to damage the internal organs of an individual if the disease is not treated quickly. Schistosomiasis can also have serious consequences for children as they face the risk of cognitive development impairment and growth can sometimes be affected as well (Jame s et. al 2006). Some forms of schistosomiasis such as urinary schistosomiasis join on the risks for an individual with regard to other diseases such as bladder cancer (Strickland, 2006). Signs and Symptoms There are a number of symptoms that one can look for to identify whether an individual has been infected with the parasitic disease. Some of the symptoms that an individual may suffer from complicate physical aspects such as suffering from diarrhea, fever and a cough. The individual may also grow abdominal pains as well as fatigue when they have not been very bustling (Botros et. al 2005). During the initial stages of the infection, the individual may suffer from mild itching where the body came into contact with the contaminated water. These symptoms can be confused for something else or even overlooked all together thus it is inhering that individuals living in areas where they are under risk of infection be vigilant in ensuring that they are able to detect the disease duri ng its early stages. As the disease progresses there are a number of symptoms that enter into the fray of action but will require medical tests to be identified. These symptoms include an increase in the individuals white blood cells in the body (Thetiot-Laurent et. al 2013). Organs such as the liver and the spleen may also turn out enlarged as the disease progresses. Urinary schistosomiasis may also result in the development of sores in the genital area. This is one of the more serious symptoms as the lesions that are developed in that area