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You can be infected by contact for 10 seconds. Be careful of this disease during the flood season.
CCTV News2025-08-06 08:21Beijing
Source: National Emergency Broadcasting
There have been frequent heavy rainfalls recently, and red alerts for heavy rain have been issued in Guangdong, Shaanxi, Hunan, Guangxi and other places. The water levels of some rivers have risen significantly.
The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention has issued an urgent reminder that people should be careful to prevent schistosomiasis infection when they are in flooded areas, ditches, swamps, reed marshes, etc. during the flood season.
Schistosoma japonicum infection in humans
It only takes 10 seconds
Schistosoma japonicum, also known as Schistosoma japonicum, is a trematode that lives in the blood vessels of vertebrates . There are seven main species of schistosoma that can parasitize humans and cause disease: Schistosoma japonicum, Schistosoma mansoni, Schistosoma haematobium, Schistosoma intercalatum, Schistosoma mekongi, Schistosoma malayi, and Schistosoma guineensis. Currently, only Schistosoma japonicum is prevalent in China.
Schistosoma has seven developmental stages, namely egg, miracidium, mother sporocyst, daughter sporocyst, cercariae, schistosoma and adult.
Among them, cercariae are the stage that can infect the human body. After the eggs hatch into miracidia, they drill into the snails, and then the snails release a large number of cercariae into the water, making the water containing cercariae become "infected water".
If people come into contact with water containing schistosome cercariae - "infected water", the cercariae will quickly penetrate the human body through the skin and cause infection in just 10 seconds.
Based on epidemiological history, clinical manifestations and laboratory test results, schistosomiasis can be divided into three stages: acute, chronic and late . Patients with acute schistosomiasis have strong physical reactions and may die if not treated in time.
Acute schistosomiasis infection
What are the symptoms?
Fever and allergic reactions
Fever is the primary symptom of acute schistosomiasis. Some patients also experience a strong systemic allergic reaction, manifested by symptoms such as urticaria ("wheals"), angioedema (such as swelling of the face and limbs), and swollen lymph nodes .
Cough, difficulty breathing, nausea and vomiting
Acute schistosomiasis can cause respiratory and gastrointestinal reactions.
Easy to misdiagnose
Since the symptoms of schistosomiasis , such as fever, hepatomegaly, and diarrhea , are extremely similar to those of typhoid fever, colds, sepsis and other diseases, it is very easy to misdiagnose in non-epidemic areas or when doctors are not vigilant.
The incubation period of acute schistosomiasis is generally about 40 days. If you experience symptoms such as rash, unexplained fever, diarrhea, etc. after contact with infected water or suspicious water bodies , you should take the initiative to go to the local schistosomiasis prevention and control agency to inform the contact history and undergo examination.
Repeated infection, not cured in time
Can develop into late stage schistosomiasis
If the human body repeatedly comes into contact with infected water or is infected with schistosome cercariae in small quantities multiple times, it may lead to chronic schistosomiasis, with symptoms that are milder than acute infection or no symptoms at all.
If acute infection is not promptly treated, it can develop into chronic schistosomiasis. If left untreated, the disease can progress over several years, eventually reaching advanced schistosomiasis, characterized by ascites, splenomegaly, and a thickened colon. Sufferers become emaciated and have distended bellies, earning the disease the nickname "big belly disease." Repeated infection in children can also lead to dwarfism.
Recent cases have shown that schistosomiasis infection can also cause chronic inflammation, which in turn can lead to serious diseases.
Schistosomiasis induces intestinal cancer
In April this year, 61-year-old Mr. Liu from Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, sought medical attention due to dizziness, fatigue, and severe anemia. He was diagnosed with intestinal cancer after examination, and doctors discovered a large number of old schistosoma japonicum eggs in his intestinal wall.
The doctor said that Mr. Liu has been farming by the water all year round, and the intestinal cancer diagnosed this time is closely related to the chronic inflammation caused by schistosomiasis infection.
How to prevent schistosomiasis during flood season?
During the flood season, water levels rise, humans and animals come into contact with water more frequently, fecal contamination of water increases, and the distribution of snails expands, all of which increase the risk of schistosomiasis transmission. Therefore, prevention of schistosomiasis can start from the following aspects:
Avoid contact with infected water and strengthen protection
Do not live on the beach where snails are found
During natural disasters such as floods, snails may be carried by currents to new areas. Staying away from snail-infested beaches can effectively prevent schistosomiasis.
Do not drink raw water
Water sources may be contaminated due to factors such as continuous rainfall. Drinking raw water containing schistosome cercariae can also lead to schistosomiasis. Since schistosome cercariae are temperature-sensitive, boiling drinking water can reduce the risk of infection if treatment is unavailable.
Good fecal management
The feces of people and animals with schistosomiasis often contain schistosomiasis eggs. Therefore, proper fecal management of humans and animals, including preventing feces from entering water, can effectively prevent the spread of schistosomiasis.
National Emergency Broadcast Alert
Schistosomiasis infection cannot be cured on its own
Recent rainfall has caused floods and waterlogging in many places
If you have come into contact with infected water
Symptoms such as fever, rash, and diarrhea
Be highly vigilant
Go to the hospital promptly
Do not delay the treatment
more... zhttps://baijiahao.baidu.com/s?id=1839663056387948050
CCTV News2025-08-06 08:21Beijing
Source: National Emergency Broadcasting
There have been frequent heavy rainfalls recently, and red alerts for heavy rain have been issued in Guangdong, Shaanxi, Hunan, Guangxi and other places. The water levels of some rivers have risen significantly.
The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention has issued an urgent reminder that people should be careful to prevent schistosomiasis infection when they are in flooded areas, ditches, swamps, reed marshes, etc. during the flood season.
Schistosoma japonicum infection in humans
It only takes 10 seconds
Schistosoma japonicum, also known as Schistosoma japonicum, is a trematode that lives in the blood vessels of vertebrates . There are seven main species of schistosoma that can parasitize humans and cause disease: Schistosoma japonicum, Schistosoma mansoni, Schistosoma haematobium, Schistosoma intercalatum, Schistosoma mekongi, Schistosoma malayi, and Schistosoma guineensis. Currently, only Schistosoma japonicum is prevalent in China.
Schistosoma has seven developmental stages, namely egg, miracidium, mother sporocyst, daughter sporocyst, cercariae, schistosoma and adult.
Among them, cercariae are the stage that can infect the human body. After the eggs hatch into miracidia, they drill into the snails, and then the snails release a large number of cercariae into the water, making the water containing cercariae become "infected water".
If people come into contact with water containing schistosome cercariae - "infected water", the cercariae will quickly penetrate the human body through the skin and cause infection in just 10 seconds.
Based on epidemiological history, clinical manifestations and laboratory test results, schistosomiasis can be divided into three stages: acute, chronic and late . Patients with acute schistosomiasis have strong physical reactions and may die if not treated in time.
Acute schistosomiasis infection
What are the symptoms?
Fever and allergic reactions
Fever is the primary symptom of acute schistosomiasis. Some patients also experience a strong systemic allergic reaction, manifested by symptoms such as urticaria ("wheals"), angioedema (such as swelling of the face and limbs), and swollen lymph nodes .
△Image source: Guangdong Centers for Disease Control
Cough, difficulty breathing, nausea and vomiting
Acute schistosomiasis can cause respiratory and gastrointestinal reactions.
- Respiratory reactions include cough (mostly dry cough), chest pain, and difficulty breathing.
- Gastrointestinal reactions include severe abdominal pain (mostly around the navel), abdominal distension, diarrhea (often with mucus or blood), nausea and vomiting . The patient's liver may swell significantly and have obvious tenderness in a short period of time, and the spleen of some patients may also swell rapidly.
Easy to misdiagnose
Since the symptoms of schistosomiasis , such as fever, hepatomegaly, and diarrhea , are extremely similar to those of typhoid fever, colds, sepsis and other diseases, it is very easy to misdiagnose in non-epidemic areas or when doctors are not vigilant.
The incubation period of acute schistosomiasis is generally about 40 days. If you experience symptoms such as rash, unexplained fever, diarrhea, etc. after contact with infected water or suspicious water bodies , you should take the initiative to go to the local schistosomiasis prevention and control agency to inform the contact history and undergo examination.
Repeated infection, not cured in time
Can develop into late stage schistosomiasis
If the human body repeatedly comes into contact with infected water or is infected with schistosome cercariae in small quantities multiple times, it may lead to chronic schistosomiasis, with symptoms that are milder than acute infection or no symptoms at all.
If acute infection is not promptly treated, it can develop into chronic schistosomiasis. If left untreated, the disease can progress over several years, eventually reaching advanced schistosomiasis, characterized by ascites, splenomegaly, and a thickened colon. Sufferers become emaciated and have distended bellies, earning the disease the nickname "big belly disease." Repeated infection in children can also lead to dwarfism.
Recent cases have shown that schistosomiasis infection can also cause chronic inflammation, which in turn can lead to serious diseases.
Schistosomiasis induces intestinal cancer
In April this year, 61-year-old Mr. Liu from Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, sought medical attention due to dizziness, fatigue, and severe anemia. He was diagnosed with intestinal cancer after examination, and doctors discovered a large number of old schistosoma japonicum eggs in his intestinal wall.
The doctor said that Mr. Liu has been farming by the water all year round, and the intestinal cancer diagnosed this time is closely related to the chronic inflammation caused by schistosomiasis infection.
How to prevent schistosomiasis during flood season?
During the flood season, water levels rise, humans and animals come into contact with water more frequently, fecal contamination of water increases, and the distribution of snails expands, all of which increase the risk of schistosomiasis transmission. Therefore, prevention of schistosomiasis can start from the following aspects:
Avoid contact with infected water and strengthen protection
- Pay attention to warning signs along the shore. Oncomelania snails are the intermediate host of schistosomiasis. Avoid swimming, playing in the water, washing clothes, or fishing in rivers, lakes, ponds, ditches, and other water bodies where snails breed or where there are uncertain risks.
- When contact with infected water is unavoidable due to production, daily life, flood prevention, etc., it is recommended to wear protective equipment (rubber gloves, rubber shoes, rubber clothing, rubber pants, etc.) before entering the water, and evenly apply anti-larvae protective ointment on the skin to prevent infection.
Do not live on the beach where snails are found
During natural disasters such as floods, snails may be carried by currents to new areas. Staying away from snail-infested beaches can effectively prevent schistosomiasis.
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Do not drink raw water
Water sources may be contaminated due to factors such as continuous rainfall. Drinking raw water containing schistosome cercariae can also lead to schistosomiasis. Since schistosome cercariae are temperature-sensitive, boiling drinking water can reduce the risk of infection if treatment is unavailable.
Good fecal management
The feces of people and animals with schistosomiasis often contain schistosomiasis eggs. Therefore, proper fecal management of humans and animals, including preventing feces from entering water, can effectively prevent the spread of schistosomiasis.
National Emergency Broadcast Alert
Schistosomiasis infection cannot be cured on its own
Recent rainfall has caused floods and waterlogging in many places
If you have come into contact with infected water
Symptoms such as fever, rash, and diarrhea
Be highly vigilant
Go to the hospital promptly
Do not delay the treatment
more... zhttps://baijiahao.baidu.com/s?id=1839663056387948050