What is it?
Schistosomiasis is an infection with a parasitic worm. Five species of it can be found in humans. The worms live in fresh water in (sub)tropical regions, for example in Africa, Asia, South America and the Middle East. In the Netherlands the infection cannot be acquired.
Symptoms depend on the stage of the infection. It may go unnoticed, or only cause complaints after months or years. When you first catch it, an itchy skin rash may appear; after a number of weeks you may develop a fever; and after that, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, back pain, blood in the stool or urine, and signs of paralysis may be among the symptoms, depending on where in the body the worm eggs are located.
The disease can be treated with medication.
How do you catch it?
Anyone who comes into contact with fresh surface water — including drinking unboiled water from a natural water source — in (sub)tropical regions where infected freshwater snails occur can catch schistosomiasis. The parasite's larvae, which come from the snail, penetrate the intact skin of a person. The larvae then develop into adult worms in the blood vessels of the intestine or the bladder. The infection cannot be passed from person to person.
How do you prevent it?
You can prevent schistosomiasis by avoiding contact with fresh surface water in the areas where the disease occurs. There is no vaccine against schistosomiasis.
Besides the conditions at your destination, your personal circumstances and travel plans are decisive factors in the preparations you may need to make — or are required to make — before you travel. You are welcome to come to us for expert travel health advice.
The above description is only a general, concise and simplified overview and is intended for information purposes only. No rights can be derived from it. Personal advice is given exclusively during a consultation with a specially trained Certified Travel Health Physician or Travel Health Assistant.