10M Pinoys exposed to schistosomiasis

AROUND 10 million people living in 28 provinces in the Philippines are exposed to schistosomiasis, a neglected parasitic disease, the Department of Health (DoH) said.

Schistosomiasis is caused by blood flukes or flatworms, which are usually found in bodies of water with poor sanitation.

“People can get infected when the skin is exposed and comes into contact with contaminated fresh water — usually during swimming, bathing or during farming activities,” said Dr. Kim Patrick Tejano, medical officer of the Disease Prevention and Control Bureau.

Experts said freshwater fishermen, farmers, irrigation workers and those living near bodies of freshwater are prone to this disease.

As of 2018, 28 out of 81 provinces were declared endemic areas, 190 out of 1,489 municipalities are affected, and 1,611 out of 42,036 villages have recorded cases of schistosomiasis, according to the DoH.

Tejano said the schistosoma life cycle involves reproduction in snails and in humans.

It can be acquired from larval forms of the parasite and penetrate the skin, while some of the eggs are passed out of the body in the feces.

Dr. Annie Abordo-Dioso, Adult Infectious Disease fellow at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, said that symptoms may vary depending on the severity of the disease.

Symptoms of swimmer’s itch (rashes) and Katayama fever like chills, fatigue, headache, body pains, abdominal pain, diarrhea, cough and dyspnea are common for acute schistosomiasis.

Chronic schistosomiasis includes symptoms such as weight loss, anorexia, anemia, bleeding ulcers, nausea, vomiting and seizures.