Flukes are flattened worms that may infest humans or animals. In humans, the two main diseases are liver fluke infestation (fascioliasis) and schistosomiasis (also called bilharzia). Fascioliasis is typically acquired by eating food contaminated with fluke larvae.
In the body, the larvae invade the liver, causing symptoms such as fever and night sweats. The larvae mature into adults in the liver, where they may cause inflammation or obstruction of the bile ducts, which may lead to jaundice.
Schistosomiasis is usually acquired by bathing in water contaminated with fluke larvae. The larvae penetrate the skin and develop into adults, which settle in veins of the bladder and intestines, causing inflammation and sometimes bleeding and ulceration. Eggs produced by the adults may migrate to the liver and cause liver damage.
Symptoms of schistosomiasis include itching where larvae penetrated the skin; fever; muscle pain; diarrhea; frequent, painful urination; blood in the urine; and a cough.
Treatment of both diseases is with anthelmintic medication to kill the flukes

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