JUNE 19, 2018

Under 5s Should Be Priority for Snail Fever

Infants in some of the world’s poorest regions are vulnerable to schistosomiasis (snail fever), and their treatment should become a priority.

Regular testing and treatment of preschool children for schistosomiasis would reduce the spread of the disease while promoting childhood health and development, the researchers said (BMJ Glob Health 2018;3[2]:e000661. doi: 10.1136/bmjgh-2017-000661).

The parasite, which is carried by freshwater snails, mainly infects people in sub-Saharan Africa. Once