How can I treat these worms?
SCHISTOSOMIASIS (Bilharzia) is when schistosoma worms stay in our bodies. They cause few or no symptoms. The most common sign is blood in stool or urine.
Ask the Doctor with Dr. Paul Semugoma
Dear Doctor,
I took my stool to the laboratory and was told I had the worm schistosomiasis. I was given praziquantel, but there is no change. What can I do?
Eri
Dear Eri,
SCHISTOSOMIASIS (Bilharzia) is when schistosoma worms stay in our bodies. They cause few or no symptoms. The most common sign is blood in stool or urine.
The disease is diagnosed when we see the worms’ eggs in urine or stool. These worms destroy our body organs slowly over years, so treatment is important.
Schistosoma worms enter our bodies through the skin when we wash, wade, swim or bathe in infected water in rivers, lakes or ponds.
In Uganda, the worms are common on the shores of Lake Victoria and in the West Nile districts. Treatment with praziquantel kills the worms, but their eggs continue appearing in the stool or blood for some time after treatment.
Eri, you had some symptoms before you went for treatment. I am not sure they were those of schistosoma.
They could have been for another problem. It is good you got treatment for schistosomiasis, but if there was another problem, it also needs to be treated. See a doctor about it.
Dear Doctor,
I took my stool to the laboratory and was told I had the worm schistosomiasis. I was given praziquantel, but there is no change. What can I do?
Eri
Dear Eri,
SCHISTOSOMIASIS (Bilharzia) is when schistosoma worms stay in our bodies. They cause few or no symptoms. The most common sign is blood in stool or urine.
The disease is diagnosed when we see the worms’ eggs in urine or stool. These worms destroy our body organs slowly over years, so treatment is important.
Schistosoma worms enter our bodies through the skin when we wash, wade, swim or bathe in infected water in rivers, lakes or ponds.
In Uganda, the worms are common on the shores of Lake Victoria and in the West Nile districts. Treatment with praziquantel kills the worms, but their eggs continue appearing in the stool or blood for some time after treatment.
Eri, you had some symptoms before you went for treatment. I am not sure they were those of schistosoma.
They could have been for another problem. It is good you got treatment for schistosomiasis, but if there was another problem, it also needs to be treated. See a doctor about it.