SCHISTOSOMIASIS

IN AFRICA
Tymeka Lewis, Ph.D. student
Walden University
PUBH 8165-1
Instructor: Dr. Shana Morrell
Spring, 2009
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Schistosomiasis
Definition
Rate of the disease
Symptoms
Treatments
Prevention

WHAT IS SCHISTOSOMIASIS?
Bilharzia or snail fever (CDC, 2008)
200 million people are infected, mainly in Africa
(CDC, 2008)
20 million people disabled (EPA, 2008)
280,000 die each year (EPA, 2008)
Contaminated freshwater with snails carry the
disease (CDC, 2008)
CDC. (2008). Schistosomiasis. Retrieved April 13, 2009, from
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/schistosomiasis/default.html

EPA. (2008). Scientist identify new leads for treating parasitic worm disease. Retrieved April 13, 2009, from
http://www.eps.gov/aging/press/othernews/2008/2008


HOW YOU GET IT?
Contact with contaminated
freshwater with
Schistosoma eggs
Eggs hatch
Parasites grows in snails
Parasites leaves snails
Parasites enters a
persons skin (CDC,
2008)
CDC. (2008). Schistosomiasis: Fact sheet.
Retrieved April 13, 2009, from
http://www.cdc.gov.
Figure 1. Wikipedia. Skin vesicales on the
forearem, created by the penetration of
Schistosoma.

MAIN FORMS OF HUMAN
SCHISTOSOMIASIS
S. mansoni
Figure 2. Wikipedia.
S. haematobium
Figure 3. Wikipedia.
SYMPTOMS
Rash or itchy skin
Fever or chills
Cough
Muscle aches
Inflammation -swelling and tenderness
of the liver


CDC. (2008). Schistosomiasis: A fact lost boys and girls of Sudan. Retrieved April 13, 2009, from
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dq/refugee/lostboysandgirlssudan/schistosomiasis_fact_sheet.html


TREATMENT FOR SCHISTOSOMIASIS
Praziquantel treats all
forms (CDC, 2008)
Oxamniquine treats
intestinal (CDC, 2008)
Metrifonate treats urinary
(WHO, 2007)
No vaccine (CDC, 2008)
CDC. (2008). Schistosomiasis: A fact sheet for the
lost boys and girls of Sudan. Retrieved April 13,
2009, from
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dq/refugee/lostboys
andgirlssudan/schistosomiasis_fact_sheet.html
WHO. (2007). Schistosomiasis. Retrieved April 13,
2009 from
http://www.microbiologybytes.com/introduction/
Schisto.html
Figure 4. Generic Biltricide (Praziquantel ) 600 mg
Tablets






PREVENTION
Avoid freshwater
washing, swimming,
wading or bathing
Drink safe water
Heat bath water
Use toilets


CDC. (2008). Schistosomiasis. Retrieved April 13,
2009 from http://www.cdc.gov
Figure 5. Photo Disc Image.

WHO DOES IT MAINLY AFFECT?
CHILDREN!
Figure 6. Girl getting water.
Figure 7. Kids playing in
water.
REDUCING THE DISEASE IN AFRICA
Health education
Control of freshwater
snails
Supply of water
Low cost of medicine
Management of the
environment
Improve sanitation
WHO. (2007). Schistosomiasis. Retrieved
April 13, 2009 from
http://www.microbiologybytes.com/introd
uction/Schisto.html

Figure 8. WHO. New parasites (cercariae)
CONCLUSION
Schistosomiasis is caused by parasitic flatworms
(CDC, 2008).
A person become infected with schistosomiasis
when contaminated freshwater where snails carry
schistosomes gets on the skin (CDC, 2008).
There are two main forms of schistosomiasis
(Britannica, 2009).
CONCLUSION
Praziquantel is the drug that treats it (CDC, 2008).
DONT swim, wade, bath or wash in freshwater.
66 million children are affected with schistosomiasis
(WHO, 2007).


CONCLUSION
To reduce incidence in African communities
Health education should be provided
Freshwater snails should be under control
Supply of water should be tested
Praziquantel should be provided to children
annually
Management of the environment including
improved sanitation (pipes)

REFERENCES
CDC. (2008). Schistosomiasis. Retrieved April 13, 2009, from
http://www.cdc.gov.

CDC. (2008). Schistosomiasis: A fact sheet for the lost boys and girls of
Sudan. Retrieved April 13, 2009, from
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dq/refugee/lostboysandgirlssudan/schistosomi
asis_fact_sheet.html

CDC. (2009). Prevention of specific infectious diseases. Retrieved April 13,
2009, from http://wwwn.cdc.gov.travel.yellowBookCH4-
Schistosomiasis.aspx

CDC. (2009). Schistosomiasis. [Online Image]. Retrieved April 13, 2009,
from Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org

Clements, A., Garba, A., Sacko, M., Toure., Dembele, R., Landoure, A.,
Bosque-Olivia, E., Gabrielli, A. F., & Fenwick, A. (2008). Mapping the
probability of schistosomiasis and associated uncertainty, West Africa.
Emerging Infectious Diseases, 14(10), 1629-1632. DOI:
10.3201/eid1410.080366





REFERENCES CONTINUED
Deganello, R., Cruciani, M., Beltramello, C., Duncan, O., Oyugi, V., &
Montresor, A. (2007). Schistosoma hematobium and S. mansoni among
children, Southern Sudan. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 13(10), 1504-
1506.

Doumenge, J. P., Mott, K. E., Villenave, C. D., Perrin, O. C., & Reaud-
Thomas, G. (1987). Atlas of the global distribution of schistosomiasis.
World Health Organization. Retrieved April 13, 2009, from
http://www.who.int/wormcontrol/documents/maps/en/contents.pdf

EPA. (2008). Scientist identify new leads for treating parasitic worm
disease. Retrieved April 13, 2009, from
http://www.epa.gov/aging/press/othernews/2008/2008_0316_ons_1.htm

Generic Biltricide (Praziquantel). [Online Image]. Retrieved April 13, 2009,
from http://www.generics.ws

Meltzer, E., Artom, G., Marva, E., Assous, M. V., Rahav, G., & Schwartz, E.
(2006). Schistosomiasis among travelers: New aspects of an old
disease. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 12(11), 1696-1700.



REFERENCES CONTINUED
Photos Disc Image. [Online Image]. Water boiling in pot on stove. Retrieved
April 13, 2009, from http://images.google.com

Schistosomiasis. (2009). In Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved April 14,
2009, from Encyclopedia Britannica
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/527459/schistosomiasis

Taylor, M. (2008). Global trends in schistosomiasis control. World Health
Organization, 86(10), 738. doi 10:2471/BLT.08.058669

WHO. (2007). Schistosomiasis. Retrieved April 13, 2009, from
http://www.microbiologybytes.com/introduction/Schisto.html

WHO. Schistosomiasis. [Online Image]. Retrieved April 13, 2009, from
World Health Organization. http://www.microbiologybytes.com

Wikipedia. Schistosomiasis. [Online Image]. Retrieved April 13, 2009, from
Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org


FOR FURTHER READING
CDC. (2008).. Schistosomiasis. Retrieved April 13, 2009, from
http://www.cdc.gov.
Centron, M. S., Chitsulo, L., & Sullivan, J. J. (1996).
Schistosomiasis in Lake Malawi. Lancet, 348,
1274-1278.
Photograhy.com. [Online Image]. Retrieved April 13, 2009 from
Photography.com
Pritt, B. S., & Clark, C. G. (2008). Amebiasis. Mayo Clinic
Proceedings, 83(10), 1154-1160.
Schwartz, E., Kozarsky, P., Wilson, M., & Centron, M. (2005).
Schistosome infection among river rafters on Omo River,
Ethiopia. Journal Travel Medicine, 12, 3-8.
World Health Organization. (1993). The control of
schistosomiasis: Second report of the WHO Expert
Committee. WHO Technical Report Series 830.
Geneva.



ARE THERE ANY
QUESTIONS?
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO MY
PRESENTATION!