Schistosomiasis primary prevention
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] ; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Aditya Ganti M.B.B.S. [2]
Overview
Effective measures for the primary prevention of schistosomiasis include avoiding swimming or wading in freshwater that may be infested with cercariae, water used for bathing should be allowed to boil for 1 minute to kill any cercariae, and then cooled before bathing to avoid scalding. Vigorous towel drying after an accidental water exposure may help to prevent the Schistosoma parasite from penetrating the skin.
Primary Prevention
- Travelers to areas where schistosomiasis is endemic should avoid contact with freshwater that may be infested with cercariae.[1]
- Water used for bathing should be allowed to boil for 1 minute to kill any cercariae, and then cooled before bathing to avoid scalding.
- Water held in a storage tank for at least 1 - 2 days should be safe for bathing.
- Vigorous towel drying after an accidental water exposure may help to prevent the Schistosoma parasite from penetrating the skin.
- Transmission of schistosomiasis in endemic communities can be interrupted by provision of sanitation and safe water supplies and elimination of snail intermediate hosts or their habitats.
- Repeated doses of artesunate or artemether (6 mg/kg every 1 or 2 weeks) appear to provide chemoprophylactic protection against infection with S.japonicum after episodic exposure.