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Helminthic Diseases: Schistosomiasis

International Encyclopedia of Public Health, Page: 351-361
2008
  • 6
    Citations
  • 0
    Usage
  • 14
    Captures
  • 0
    Mentions
  • 0
    Social Media
Metric Options:   Counts1 Year3 Year

Metrics Details

  • Citations
    6
    • Citation Indexes
      6
  • Captures
    14

Book Chapter Description

Schistosomiasis is a chronic and poverty-promoting disease that affects over 200 million people and inflicts a considerable public health burden across large parts of the developing world. Yet, schistosomiasis remains one of the so-called ‘neglected tropical diseases’ because it affects poor populations mostly in rural areas. The distribution of schistosomiasis is focal, since transmission is governed by human water contact activities in freshwater bodies supporting intermediate host snails, and lack of access to clean water and adequate sanitation. Schistosomiasis should not be a major cause of morbidity because there is an effective treatment, and transmission could be broken by improved water supply and sanitation facilities. Indeed, schistosomiasis has been eliminated as a result of socioeconomic development and integrated control approaches from several countries, including Japan and Tunisia. However, in many parts of Africa, schistosomiasis has increased during the 20th century as a result of water resource development projects combined with population immigration without adequate provision of sanitation. In the new millennium there is renewed hope of schistosomiasis control as awareness and political will have increased, and large-scale morbidity control programs are underway, facilitated by praziquantel, a safe, efficacious, and inexpensive drug, and advocacy from the World Health Organization.

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