Schistosomiasis: Improving care of an infection

Full Title: “Schistosomiasis: Improving Care of an Infection Disproportionately Affecting Impoverished Children and Exploiting Its Biology to Develop New Drugs” 

Schistosomiasis, infection with parasitic Schistosoma worms, affects upwards of 500 million people worldwide. A disproportionate number of impoverished children are infected, making schistosomiasis a pediatric infection of global importance. We will discuss how basic and translational research in schistosomiasis can contribute to improved diagnosis and management of this infection. Studying schistosomiasis can also lead to discovery of drugs for unrelated diseases relevant to children. We will highlight how schistosome-derived proteins may be novel analgesics that avoid opioid-associated adverse effects in children.