Symptoms of schistosomiasis appear due to parasites. The disease is caused by worms - blood flukes belonging to the genus Schistosoma. The name of the disease is not on hearing, but at the same time it needs treatment for more than 250 million people around the world. As practice shows, mainly among the sick - poor people working on the ground, from countries that do not comply with hygiene standards.
Path of infection with schistosomiasis
Like most other parasites, schistosomes can be infected through their eggs. The latter can enter the environment with feces. Most often, contaminated water becomes a source of contamination with schistosomiasis. Sometimes the infection is transmitted during contact with the ground, but this happens much less often.
In the body, eggs begin to develop rapidly. Inhabit adults of worms in blood vessels. Here, females lay eggs, some of which remain in the body, while others leave for further reproduction.
Symptoms of schistosomiasis
There are two main types of the disease:
- intestinal;
- genitourinary.
The latter is characterized by the appearance of blood veins in the urine. In addition, there may be observed:
- vaginal bleeding;
- genital lesions;
- soreness during intercourse;
- the appearance of nodules on the external genitalia.
When a disease is neglected, it can go into a chronic form. The same is fraught with sad consequences - such as infertility, for example.
Because of intestinal schistosomiasis, there are pains in the abdomen and blood in the feces . In the most severe cases, there is an increase in the liver and spleen.
If parasites enter the lungs, they can be detected by dry, tearing cough, chest pain, dyspnea, blood in expectorated sputum. Especially dangerous is the spread of schistosomiasis to the brain or spinal cord. In this case, the disease can be accompanied by:
- vomiting;
- headaches;
- speech disorders;
- impaired vision ;
- memory disorder;
- decreased intellect;
- soreness in the lower back;
- paraplegia;
- development of psycho-organic syndrome;
- subdepressive state.
At some patients on a background of an illness the body temperature rises.
Treatment of schistosomiasis
Very often to combat parasites use such drugs:
- Niridazole;
- Ambilgar.
Also not bad proved themselves and such means as:
- Praziquantel;
- Hycanton;
- Stilbokaptat;
- The metronome.