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<br> Contaminated water creates lots of health problems for those who come in contact with it.

Bilharzia also known as schistosomiasis is one of the many diseases that one can get from contaminated water. This is a widespread waterborne disease in Africa and many other parts of the world.


How do you get it?

Parasites in contaminated water enters the body through ingestion or cuts. It would then breed near the liver or bladder, which would damage the liver that will affect the blood and urine. Resulting in the loss of energy and anaemia. One would start getting ill after 4 to 6 weeks of infection.


Symptoms:

In the Early stages:
- itchy rash "swimmer's itch"
- diarrhoea
- cystitis
or even no symptoms at all...depending on an idividual's immune system

General:
- fever
- headache
- cough
- urticaria
- lymphadenopathy
- chills
- muscle aches

*Symptoms are caused by the body's reaction to the eggs produced by the parasites, not to the worms themselves.


How do you know if you have been infected?

Go and see the doctor. Usually one would get their urine tested.


Treatment:

Safe and effective drugs prescripted by a doctor. Usually it is pills that one has to take for 1 to 2 days.


Places were Bilharzia can occur:

- Africa
- Latin America
- Caribbean
- The Middle East
- Southern China
- Southeast Asia


Preventions:

domokun Avoid swimming/wading in fresh water in countries where schistosomiasis occur.
- swimming in ocean & chlorinated swimming pools are much safer

cheese_whine drink safe water

- Since you don't know where the water is coming from it is best to boil water for at least a minute or filter the water before drinking

- boiling water for at least a minute will kill any parasites, bacteria & viruses present

- iodine treatment doesn't gurarantee water is safe & free from parasites

idea bath water

- should be heated fro 5 mins @ 150 degrees ferenheit
- water held in a storage tank 4 @ least 48 hours should be safe for showering

gonk vigorous towel drying after an accidental, very brief water exposure helps to prevent schistosoma parasites from penetrating skin BUT one should NOT rely on vigorous towel drying to prevent schistosomiasis.

For more information visit the following websites:

Medical College of Wisconsin

Student Health