Doctors & Clinics in Philippines
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Schistosomiasis risk is present in the country, areas of risk are described:
Risk is present on the following islands:
Luzon: The Irosin-Juban valley on the southern tip of the island (Sorsogon Province) and in the northeastern municipality of Gonzaga (Cagayan Province).
Mindoro: Area surrounding Lake Naujan, including the villages of Pola, Victoria and Naujan (Oriental Mindoro Province).
Samar: The entire western coastal area from Allen to Basey (Western Samar Province) and along the northern coast from Lavezares to Palapag, extending south to Las Navas (Northern Samar Province).
Leyte: The eastern half of Leyte down to Abuyog, including Villalba and Matag-Ob on the western side. Cases have also been reported from Baybay city.
Bohol: Northern coastal areas of Talibon and Trinidad (Bohol Province).
Negros: Municipality of Calatrava (Negros Occidental Province).
Mindanao: Villages along the Bay of Panquil from Tangub City to Lala and around Dipolog City (Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur Provinces); in all villages in the Agusan River valley from Butuan to Compostela Valley Province; in the northern coastal peninsula area from Butuan to Tago, including the area around Lake Mainit (Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur Provinces); in the area around Davao and Tagum City on the Bay of Davao (Davao del Sur and Davao del Norte Provinces). Additional localized cases are present in Malaybalay and Maramag (Bukidnon Province) and Pikit (Cotabato Province). Cases have also been reported from South Cotabato, Maguindanao, and Sultan Kudarat Provinces.
Risk of Schistosomiasis caused by: Schistosoma japonicum
The main intermediate host snail is: Oncomelania quadrasi
Schistosomiasis, also known as Bilharzia, is caused by Schistosoma trematode flatworms. It is transmitted by snails living in fresh water such as lakes, rivers, streams and ponds. This preventable disease affects approximately 243 million people worldwide. The following flatworms – S. haematobium, S. mansoni, S. guineensis, S. intercalatum, S. mekongi, S. japonicum as well as S. mattheei and S. malayensis are responsible for Schistosomiasis in humans causing damage either to the urinary tract, bladder, kidneys, liver, or gastro-intestinal system. Schistosomiasis is a Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD)*. Many countries affected by the disease have active health education and eradication programs focusing on improved sanitation and snail control.
* Neglected Tropical Diseases are chronic infections that are typically endemic in low income countries. They prevent affected adults and children from going to school, working, or fully participating in community life, contributing to stigma and the cycle of poverty.
Travellers swimming in fresh water in Africa, Southeast Asia, South America, and some Caribbean islands are at greater risk.
Initial symptoms usually appear within days or weeks after being infected and include a skin rash, fever, headache, muscle ache, bloody diarrhea, cough, malaise, and abdominal pain. If untreated, Schistosomiasis can become a chronic illness as the flatworm eggs damage the lining of abdominal organs, female genital organs, the heart, lungs, and rarely the brain. Chronic Schistosomiasis can cause irreversible damage, including cancer. Treatment includes taking the anthelminthic drug Praziquantel.
The primary way to prevent Schistosomiasis is to avoid swimming in fresh water and eating raw foods which have not been washed with purified water. Additional prevention advice includes:
For complete information on prevention methods, lifecycle of the flatworms, and the geographic distribution of Schistosomiasis, see IAMAT’s resources: Be Aware of Schistosomiasis and World Schistosomiasis Risk Chart.