Skip to content
How It Works
Explore
Resources Ask a Question
Who It's For
Patients Caregivers Providers
Log In Ask a Question
PubMed This is a summary of 93 peer-reviewed journal articles Updated
Infectious Disease

Schistosomiasis (Bilharzia) Resource Guide

At a Glance

Schistosomiasis, or bilharzia, is a parasitic infection typically acquired through freshwater exposure during travel. Standard treatment involves the antiparasitic medication praziquantel, and care is usually managed by an infectious disease or travel medicine specialist.

Welcome to the comprehensive resource guide for Schistosomiasis, also known as bilharzia.

Finding out you may have a parasitic infection can feel overwhelming and scary. This resource translates complex medical information into clear, empowering language to help you understand your diagnosis, advocate for your care, and prepare for productive conversations with your doctor.

Explore the sections below to learn more:

01

Understanding Schistosomiasis (Bilharzia)

Learn about schistosomiasis (bilharzia), a treatable parasitic infection. Understand how it spreads through freshwater, symptoms, phases, and treatment.

02

Symptoms and Warning Signs of Schistosomiasis

Learn the early and chronic symptoms of schistosomiasis. Understand signs like Katayama fever, blood in urine or stool, and when to seek emergency care.

03

The Parasite's Journey: Biology and Types

Learn how the schistosomiasis parasite enters your body through freshwater. Understand the three main types of flatworms and why their eggs cause symptoms.

04

The Diagnostic Puzzle: How Doctors Find the Infection

Learn how doctors diagnose schistosomiasis using stool, urine, and blood tests. Understand the 6 to 12-week diagnostic gap, false negatives, and PCR testing.

05

Eradicating the Parasite: Standard of Care Treatment

Learn about schistosomiasis treatment. Understand how praziquantel works, weight-based dosing, the 6-8 week treatment timeline, and options for children.

06

Long-Term Complications: Protecting Your Organs

Learn about the long-term complications of schistosomiasis, including liver fibrosis, bladder cancer, and reproductive issues like FGS, plus how to manage them.

07

Survivorship & Monitoring: Life After Treatment

Learn what to expect after schistosomiasis treatment. Understand follow-up testing timelines, liver and bladder monitoring, and how to prevent reinfection.

Common questions in this guide

How do doctors test for a bilharzia infection?
Doctors diagnose bilharzia using specific tests based on your travel history, symptom timeline, and the types of water-exposure activities you participated in. It is important to share detailed travel dates and locations to ensure the correct tests are ordered.
What is the standard treatment for schistosomiasis?
The standard of care for treating a schistosomiasis infection is a prescription antiparasitic medication called praziquantel. This medication is used to effectively eradicate the parasite from your body.
What kind of doctor treats schistosomiasis?
Because schistosomiasis is a specialized parasitic infection, your primary care doctor will likely refer you to an infectious disease specialist or a travel medicine expert to oversee your testing and treatment.
What information should I give my doctor if I suspect I have bilharzia?
You should provide your healthcare team with a complete list of your travel dates, the specific locations you visited, and details about any activities where you were exposed to freshwater.

Questions to Ask Your Doctor

Curated prompts to bring to your next appointment.

  1. 1.What specific tests do you recommend based on my travel history and symptoms?
  2. 2.What is the expected timeline for my diagnosis and treatment?
  3. 3.Should I be referred to an infectious disease or travel medicine specialist?

Questions For You

Tap a prompt to share your answer — we'll use it plus this page's context to start a tailored conversation.

This guide is for educational purposes to help you understand schistosomiasis (bilharzia). It does not replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from an infectious disease or travel medicine specialist.

Get notified when new evidence is published on Schistosomiasis.

We monitor PubMed for new peer-reviewed studies on this topic and email a short summary when something meaningful changes.