Schistosomiasis Treatment Requires Systematic Action For Reducing The Risk Factors And Controlling The Disease And Drugs Like Praziquantel Can Be Used In The Treatment

 

Schistosomiasis Treatment

Praziquantel is a highly potent anthelmintic, which has few side effects and is effective against most major forms of schistosomiasis. It is also effective against a wide variety of other trematodes, including F. hepatica, the helminth responsible for Schistosomiasis infection. Praziquantel has been used as a preventive Schistosomiasis Treatment and as a community-control drug in the past.

Praziquantel is a highly potent anthelmintic, which has few side effects and is effective against most major forms of schistosomiasis. It is also effective against a wide variety of other trematodes, including F. hepatica, the helminth responsible for Schistosomiasis infection. Praziquantel has been used as a preventive treatment and as a community-control drug in the past.

The prevention of schistosomiasis can start with proper hygiene. To prevent infection, it is important to avoid water contaminated with cercariae and fecal matter. To ensure safety, water should be boiled for a minute and cooled before use. Bathers should dry their skin with a towel vigorously afterward to prevent penetration of the parasites.

People who travel to areas with schistosomiasis must avoid untreated fresh water. Although ingesting the Schistosoma parasite will not cause infection, skin contact with an infected person's lips or mouth can transmit the disease.

PCR tests are a highly sensitive and specific way of detecting parasite-specific DNA in a sample. They can be used in urine, stool, or blood samples. Urine is a common and noninvasive sample that can be collected at clinics or schools. While stool is not always readily available, patients are usually willing to give a small amount of blood.

PCR tests can be extremely sensitive and specific, so they are ideal for diagnosing schistosome infections. However, this technique is not applicable to all schistosome species. It may miss infected individuals or interfere with the effectiveness of control efforts.

Avoiding freshwater sources is one of the most important steps in the Schistosomiasis Treatment. People in schistosomiasis-prone areas should not swim or wade in these bodies of water, even if the water is chlorinated. Contaminated water with the parasite can enter the mouth and lips, so it is imperative to boil water before consumption. This helps in killing harmful parasites and bacteria in the water.

Clean water is crucial for controlling the disease, as this is the best way to reduce the risk of schistosome infection. However, clean water is expensive to maintain, and it is not always a priority, particularly in resource-constrained settings. Furthermore, the water used for washing, bathing, and other activities is often more than what is used for human consumption. This makes the control of schistosomiasis more complicated than the control of other diseases.