Schistosomiasis or commonly called Snail Fever is a parasitic kind of disease which usually infects some farmers, fishermen and their families in certain parts of the Philippines.

Schistosomiasis is caused by a worm which is known by the name Schistosomiasis Japonicum. The male and female Schistosomiasis worms are always going in pair.  They used to live in the blood vessels of the liver and intestines.

The mode of transmission of schistosomiasis is through the pores of the skin.  The infection starts when the cercaria that emerges from a tiny snail called Oncomelania quadrasi after 2 months of development penetrates the skin.

The early stage of Schistosomiasis
• There would be itchiness of the skin
• There would be bloody, mucoid stools
• There would be fever & cough
• There would be diarrhea, abdominal pain, dysenteric attacks

The late stage of Schistosomiasis
• There would be enlarged liver and spleen
• There would be weight loss, severe liver disease
• There would be anemia, jaundice, ascites

The complications of Schistosomiasis
• The heart failure
• The epilepsy

Interrupting the cycle of transmission of Schistosomiasis is way of controlling it using the four methods of approach.

In the Philippines, currently, there are 2,222 barangays, 189 municipalities in 28 provinces in the 11 regions endemic with Schistosoma Japonica.

You must go and ask for the help of health workers in the nearest Health center. Stool examination is needed and when found positive, treatment must be initiated immediately.

The people themselves will be the one responsible in the stopping the spread of Schistosomiasis because this disease is a man made illness. Each individual must shared and get involved in the prevention and interruption of the transmission of the disease.

Schistosomiasis is not the only concern of the health workers but everybody’s concern. The people around the community especially in the infected areas have social responsibility in the control and prevention of the disease so they need to closely collaborate with the LGUs, NGOs, other NGAs, Pos, Academes and other stakeholders.

We shall be assured that the Schistosomiasis Control is successfully implement by prompting quality of life and agricultural productivity through partnership with various agencies and concerned private individuals.