Schistosomiasis public health burden 'underestimated'

Schistosomiasis, one of the most common infections in the world, is much more debilitating than previously thought, new research has found.

Scientists from Brown University have been investigating the effects of schistosomiasi, which infects an estimated 207 million people in 76 primarily developing countries.

The parasite is found in disease-producing flatworms that live in snail-infested fresh water which can be contaminated through daily activities involving water such as swimming, bathing, fishing and rice farming.

"Schistosomiasis has a detrimental impact on nutrition and growth and development and can lead to major organ damage and death," said the study's lead author Julia Finkelstein.

"Current measures may severely underestimate its disability-related impact of the infection and need to be revised.

Fellow researcher Stephen McGarvey added: "We've got the best evidence yet that the burden of this disease is significantly underestimated.

"So we urgently need new data - data that can help keep the disease in check by increasing funds for infection control and basic and translational research."

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