Bilharzia, also known as Schistosoma, is a parasitic disease caused by worms.
There are two types of Bilharzia spreading among humans:
- Schistosoma Haematobium (urinary schistosomiasis)
- Schistosoma Mansoni (intestinal schistosomiasis)
The eggs of the schistosomes in the excrement hatch when they come into contact with water and release a parasite, called the miracidium. To survive, this parasite must find a fresh water snail. Once it has found its snail host, the miracidium divides and produces thousands of new parasites or cerceriae, which the snail in turn excretes in the surrounding water.
Epidemiology:
- Some snails serve as an intermediate host.
- The epidemiology of Bilharzia depends on three components, schistosomiasis, as well as the human (who serves as a final host), and snails (which serve as an intermediate host).
- The transmission of the virus depends on the social, economic and educational status as well as the unhealthy habits and behaviors.