This parasitic infection can increase the risk of cervical cancer

A small parasite can be destruction under the belt – even long after it is gone.

A new study found that a “often bypass” parasitic infection, already associated with bladder cancer, can also cause activity of cancer associated with cervical lining.

Even more worrying, genetic changes seem to intensify after treatment, a red flag that researchers say patients may need closer monitoring even after their infection has been cleared.

Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease that goes rampant in tropical and subtropical areas where clean water and proper sewers are in short supply, according to the World Health Organization.

Infection usually begins when microscopic larvae – deceiving freshwater snails – dig into your skin during a diving in contaminated water.

A particularly bad strain, S. Haematobium, infects over 110 million people worldwide. One inside the body, the larvae grow in adult worms that lay eggs in the urinary and reproductive tracts.

Those eggs lay chronic inflammation, damaging the tissues and causing cellular changes that can sometimes lead to bladder cancer. But their impact on the cervix has largely been a mystery – so far.

Cervix under the siege

In a new study, researchers analyzed cervical tissue samples from 39 Tanzanian women, some infected with S. hematobium and others not.

Infected women were treated with Praziquantel, a drug that kills adult worms, and samples were taken before and 4 to 12 months after treatment.

By studying the gene activity in these samples, the team identified nine genes that behaved differently in infected and unprotected women.

“Findings suggest that infection can cause molecular changes that make women more vulnerable to cervical cancer -related processes,” Dr. said Anna Maria Mertelsmann, a researcher at Zurich University Hospital and Weill Cornell Medicine, who led the study.

She recommended that women diagnosed with S. hematobium be closed monitored for early signs of cervical tissue abnormalities that can lead to cancer.

Curated – but not in clear

In particular, in women whose infections were cleaned after treatment, researchers identified 23 genes that changed, while 29 genes changed between those who were treated and those never infected.

“Our research shows that women who received Praziquantel treatment showed more genetic cancer -related changes than those with an active infection,” Mertelsmann said.

“This raises critical questions about the long -term effects of treatment and highlights the need for careful monitoring after treatment,” it continued.

While Praziquuantel is the first line treatment for S. hematobium infections, Mertelsmann suggested that additional therapy, such as anti-inflammatory or modular immune treatments, can help counteract the harmful effects that are seen after taking the medicine.

Research is just the beginning of the discovery of how S. Haematobium could play a role in cervical cancer. A larger study that follows 180 women over 12 months is already underway to confirm the findings.

How to protect yourself from S. Haematobium

While the parasitic worm is not usually found in the US, it is common in parts of Africa and the Middle East. If you are traveling in areas where the disease is widespread, there are some simple steps you can take to protect yourself, according to CDC.

First, avoid swimming, bath or shaking on freshwater bodies such as lakes, rivers or ponds. They choose for chlorinated or ocean pools, which are generally considered safe.

Second, always treat water from natural resources before drinking it. You can boil, filter or let the water decrease for more than 24 hours to reduce the risk of infection.