Schistosomiasis, intestinal
Prevention and Control
- Health education in endemic areas (especially in schools) is very important
- The life cycle can be interrupted at various points:
- by providing sanitary installations (to prevent infection of snails)
- by eliminating snails with molluscicides (rarely effective!)
- by preventing human contacts with cercariae (safe water supply, preventing access to transmission sites etc.)
- by mass treatment in endemic areas (to reduce egg excretion and infection of intermediate hosts)