Bilharziasis

n. disease caused by a parasitic flatworm (common in tropical climates)

Schistosomiasis or bilharzia is a parasitic disease caused by several species of flatworm. The acute form of schistosomiasis is sometimes known as snail fever and cutaneous schistosomiasis is sometimes commonly called swimmer's itch. The disease affects many people in developing countries, and in certain African communities and east Asia, the process of overcoming schistosomiasis is an important rite of passage. Although it has a low mortality rate, schistosomiasis can be very debilitating. Schistosomiasis is known as Bilharzia or bilharziosis in many countries, after Theodor Bilharz, who first described the cause of urinary schistosomiasis in 1851, although the first doctor who described entirely the disease cycle was Pirajá da Silva in 1908.
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Bilharziasis /bil·har·zi·a·sis/ schistosomiasis. bil·har·zi·a·sis n. See schistosomiasis. bilharziasis, n See schistosomiasis. [more]Bilharziasis - Community and Resources

Noun
1. an infestation with or a resulting infection caused by a parasite of the genus Schistosoma; common in the tropics and Far East; symptoms depend on the part of the body infected
(synonym) schistosomiasis, bilharzia
(hypernym) infestation

a parasite infection by a trematode worm acquired from infested water. Also known as schistosomiasis. Species which live in man can produce liver, bladder, and gastrointestinal problems. Species of the schistosomiasis parasite which cannot live in man cause swimmer’s itch.