How to Avoid Bilharzia - Preventive hygiene and sanitation

Jul 17, 2026

Bilharzia spreads through contaminated freshwater when people urinate or defecate near creeks instead of using and maintaining proper latrines. Tiny parasite eggs in urine and stools dissolve into water, where they cannot be seen but develop through snails into infectious larvae. The parasites then enter the skin of people who stay in the water, often felt only as itching, while infection is already established. The content explains the life cycle and the risks of unsafe water exposure.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages20

Reading Time50 min

AccessFree to download

Preventing Bilharzia in Daily Life

Avoid contaminating water with urine and stools

Understand the parasite life cycle in snails

Prevent skin infection after contact with freshwater

How to Avoid Bilharzia Comment éviter la bilharziose English, Français Health How to Avoid Bilharzia Comment éviter la bilharziose Text: Atelier de Matériel pour l’Animation (AMA) Images by Atelier de Matériel pour l’Animation (AMA) , © 1997 SIL Cameroon. CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. Adapted by: MBANJI Bawe Ernest English, Français Copyright © 1997, SIL Cameroon [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/)[ ](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/)[You may not use this work for commercial purposes. You may](You may not use this work for commercial purposes. You may)[ ](You may not use this work for commercial purposes. You may)adapt and add to this work, but you may distribute the resulting work only under the same or similar license to this one. You must keep the copyright and credits for authors, illustrators, etc. Texte et illlustrations : utilisés avec l’autorisation de l’Atelier de Matériel pour l’Animation (AMA) Illustrations : adaptées par MBANJI Bawe Ernest These people are polluting the water! —one by urinating —the other by defecating These people have not built an outhouse. Or they aren’t using their outhouse. They are relieving themselves near the creek. Don’t they know that there might be tiny eggs of parasites in their urine or stools which can cause many diseases? Regardez ces gens: Ils salissent l’eau ! — l’un par les urines (pipis) — l’autre par les selles (cacas) Ces gens n’ont pas construit de cabinet, ou ils nel’utilisent pas. Ils vont faire leurs urines et leurs sellesprès du marigot. Ne savent-ils pas qu’ils y déposent en même temps des parasites qui peuvent donner beaucoup de maladies. There are many tiny eggs in their urine and stools that they can not see . These eggs are now in the water . Their urine and stools will decompose in the water and contaminate the water. People can not see the tiny eggs. Nobody will be able to tell that the water is now contaminated and a health hazard. Dans ces urines et ces selles, il y a des petits microbes invisibles à l’œil nu . Ces microbes vontnager partout dans l’eau du marigot . Ces urines et ces selles vont se décomposer dans l’eau et la contaminer. Les gens ne peuvent pas voir les microbes. Ils ne vont pas se rendre compte que l’eau du marigot est devenue dangereuse pour la santé . These eggs come from little worms that live in snails. The eggs become tiny larvae that swim in the water . The eggs will develop into larvae. The larvae live in snails. While living in the snail, the larvae develop into little parasites. These parasites leave the snail and swim in the water. They are very dangerous. Ces microbes sont des œufs de vers qui vont habiterdans l’escargot . Elles deviennent de très petites bêtes qui nagent dans l’eau . Les œufs vont se développer. Des larves en sortent pour entrer ensuite dans un escargot. Elles deviennent de toutes petites bêtes invisibles à l’œil nu, appelées « bilharzies » . Les bilharzies nagent dans l’eau et sont très dangereuses. These people have stayed for a long time in the water . The little parasites have attacked them . The parasites are not visible. People who stay for along time in the water do not feel the little parasites go through their skin into their body. Ces gens qui restent dans l’eau, sont attaqués parces petites bêtes . Les bilharzies ne sont pas visibles. Les gens qui restent dans l’eau ne sont pas conscients qu’ils peuvent êtreattaqués par ces petites bêtes et devenir malades. The parasites go through the skin to enter the body . The parasites enter this girl’s leg without her knowing it. She is now infected with bilharzia. Ces petites bêtes traversent la peau et rentrent dans le corps . Sans que la fille se rende compte, les bilharzies traversent la peau et rentrent dans son corps. Elle est contaminée par la bilharziose. All this girl feels is that her leg itches . But the dis

FAQs

How does bilharzia spread in communities near creeks?

Bilharzia spreads when people urinate or defecate near the water, releasing parasite eggs into the creek.

Why are people at risk even if they can’t see the parasites?

The eggs and infectious stages are invisible in water, so people do not realize the water has become dangerous until they get infected.

What happens after someone stays in contaminated water?

Infectious larvae can enter the skin without being felt right away, and the person may only notice mild symptoms like itching.

Jul 17, 2026

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