The key difference between malaria and bilharzia is that malaria is a disease caused by a single-celled parasite of the genus Plasmodium and transmitted to humans most commonly through the Anopheles mosquito, while bilharzia is a disease caused by a parasitic flatworm and transmitted to humans most commonly through contaminated water containing flukes shed by snail.
Parasitic diseases are diseases that are transmitted by parasites. These parasites are usually found in contaminated food and water or bug bites such as mosquitoes. Malaria and bilharzia are two diseases caused by parasitic organisms. Both conditions can cause characteristic fever in humans. However, these conditions are different due to their different etiologies.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Malaria
3. What is Bilharzia
4. Similarities – Malaria and Bilharzia
5. Malaria vs. Bilharzia in Tabular Form
6. FAQ – Malaria and Bilharzia
7. Summary – Malaria vs. Bilharzia
What is Malaria?
Malaria is a disease caused by a single-celled parasite of the genus Plasmodium. The female Anopheles mosquitos are responsible for transmitting malaria among humans. The signs and symptoms of malaria may include fever, chills, discomfort, headache, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, muscle or joint pain, fatigue, rapid breathing, rapid heart rate, and cough. Moreover, the complications resulting from this condition may include cerebral malaria, breathing problems, organ failure, anemia, and low blood sugar.
Figure 01: Malaria
Malaria can be diagnosed through medical history, physical examinations, and blood tests. Furthermore, treatment options for malaria may include antimalarial drugs such as chloroquine phosphate and artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs).
What is Bilharzia?
Bilharzia is a disease due to parasitic flatworms that belong to the genus Schistosoma. These flukes are found in snails and then are shed into the water. If human skin comes in contact with contaminated water, parasites can move into the people. The signs and symptoms of bilharzia may include itchiness, skin rash, fever, chills, cough, muscle aches and pain, pain in the stomach, enlarged liver, blood in the urine, difficulty in urinating, blood in the feces, and miscarriages. The complications that result from this infection or medications used to treat the condition are headache, fever, stomach pain or nausea, dizziness, itching, and malaise.
Figure 02: Freshwater Snails
Bilharzia can be diagnosed through urine tests, stool tests, and blood tests. Furthermore, treatment options for bilharzia may include anthelmintics and a prescription medication called praziquantel (Biltricide®).
What are the Similarities Between Malaria and Bilharzia?
- Malaria and bilharzia are two diseases in humans caused by parasitic organisms.
- Both conditions can cause characteristic fever in humans.
- They can cause complications.
- Both conditions can be diagnosed through physical examination and blood tests.
- They can be treated through prescription medications.
What is the Difference Between Malaria and Bilharzia?
Malaria is a disease caused by a single-celled parasite of the genus Plasmodium, which is transmitted to humans most commonly through the Anopheles mosquito, while bilharzia is a disease caused by a parasitic flatworm which is transmitted to humans most commonly through contaminated water contains flukes shed by snail. Thus, this is the key difference between malaria and bilharzia. Furthermore, complications that result from malaria are cerebral malaria, breathing problems, organ failure, anemia, and low blood sugar. On the other hand, complications that result from bilharzia are headache, fever, stomach pain or nausea, dizziness, itching, and malaise.
The following table summarizes the difference between malaria and bilharzia.
FAQ: Malaria and Bilharzia
How do you identify a malaria parasite?
Once the malaria parasite is diagnosed, PCR can be used to confirm the presence of the parasite.
How is malaria transmitted?
Malaria is transmitted by the bites of infected female Anopheles
What is the best treatment for malaria?
Interim oral treatment: artemether-lumefantrine (Coartem®) is the preferred antimalarial treatment.
Summary – Malaria vs. Bilharzia
Malaria and bilharzia are two diseases seen in humans caused by parasitic organisms. Single-celled parasite of the genus Plasmodium is the causative agent of Malaria. Malaria is transmitted to humans, most commonly through the Anopheles mosquito. Bilharzia is a disease caused by a parasitic flatworm. This disease is transmitted to humans, most commonly through contaminated water that contains flukes shed by snails. So, this summarizes the difference between malaria and bilharzia.
Reference:
1. “Schistosomiasis (Bilharzia).” National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
2. “Malaria: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment & Prevention.” Cleveland Clinic.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Life Cycle of the Malaria Parasite” By NIAID (CC BY 2.0 DEED) via Flickr
2. “Fighting Schistosomiasis in Uganda” By RTI Fights NTDs (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 DEED) via Flickr