Submit for treatment, DoH tells schisto patients
Schistosomiasis is endemic in Barangays Villa Solidaridad and Monteverde in Baybay City after one in every four residents who were tested found positive of the parasite
PALO, Leyte — The Department of Health (DoH) Center for Health Development Eastern Visayas urged residents of two villages in Baybay City who were found positive of schistosomiasis to submit for treatment to prevent the spread of the disease.
Schistosomiasis is an acute and chronic parasitic disease caused by blood flukes. People become infected when larval forms of the parasite — released by freshwater snails — penetrate the skin during contact with infested water.
A recent prevalence survey of DoH regional office proved schistosomiasis is endemic in Barangays Villa Solidaridad and Monteverde in Baybay City after one in every four residents who were tested found positive of the parasite.
The DoH regional office, through the Schistosomiasis Research and Training Center (SRTC), conducted a parasitological case finding using KatoKatz examination and malacological evaluation in Baybay City.
A total of 352 individuals were examined in Barangay Villa Solidaridad and 102 of them were found positive of schistosoma ova or a prevalence rate of 28.98 percent while one was found positive in Barangay Monteverde out of 214 residents examined or a prevalence rate of 0.47 percent.
During the evaluation, Barangay Villa Solidaridad was found to have a snail infection rate of 0.77 percent while Barangay Monteverde recorded a snail infection rate of 8.2 percent.
DoH regional director Minerva Molon said the findings are enough proof to consider the areas as schistosomiasis endemic. Transmission occurs when people suffering from schistosomiasis contaminate freshwater sources with their human waste containing parasite eggs, which hatch in water.
In the body, the larvae develop into adult schistosomes. Adult worms live in the blood vessels where the females release eggs. Some of the eggs are passed out of the body in human waste or urine to continue the parasite’s lifecycle. Others become trapped in body tissues, causing immune reactions and progressive damage to organs.
DoH conducts mass drug administration to residents aged five to 65 years old who are in good health in areas in the region that are found endemic of schistosomiasis.
The DoH also encourages residents of schisto-endemic areas to submit for treatment to prevent future health complications.
Leyte has a government-run hospital that specializes in schistosomiasis due to the high prevalence of infection in Eastern Visayas.