Bilharzia - Treating schistosomiasis
- Introduction
- Symptoms of schistosomiasis
- Causes of schistosomiasis
- Treating schistosomiasis
- Preventing schistosomiasis
If you are diagnosed with schistosomiasis, you will probably be seen in a hospital outpatient clinic where your health will be carefully assessed.
This will help ensure that any serious complications are identified. It is not usually necessary to be admitted as an inpatient.
The medication used to treat schistosomiasis is called praziquantel. Praziquantel works by first paralysing the worms and then dissolving their outer casing, killing them. A single dose of praziquantel is usually required, but sometimes a longer course is needed.
The side effects of praziquantel are usually mild and include:
- nausea
- vomiting
- abdominal pain
Steroid medication (corticosteroids) may be used to relieve the symptoms of acute schistosomiasis, as they help control the allergic reaction to the eggs responsible for the symptoms.
Treatment with praziquantel is usually delayed until three months after infection as this is when it is most effective.
If eggs were identified in your urine or stools, a further sample may be taken after four to six weeks to check whether there are still any eggs. If eggs are present, further treatment with praziquantel may be given.
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