Schistosomiasis

Schistosomaisis is a disease affecting many people in developing countries. Although it has a low mortality rate, schistosomaisis is very debilitating. An estimated 200 million people have the disease, 120 million symptomatic. A few countries have erradicated the disease, and many more are working towards it. The World Health Organization is working towards this goal.

There are 5 species of flatworms[?] that cause schistosomiasis. Each causes a different clinical presentation of the disease

• Schistosoma mansoni and intercalatum cause intestinal schistosomiasis
• Schistosoma haematobium causes urinary[?] schistosomiasis
• Schistosoma japonicum and mekongi cause asian intestinal schistosomiasis

External Link

• WHO website on Schistosomiasis (http://www.who.int/ctd/schisto/index)