Theodor Bilharz

Theodor Bilharz was a German physician and pathologist best known for his discovery of the parasitic disease schistosomiasis in the 19th century. He identified the Schistosoma parasite while studying the causes of urinary issues in patients in Egypt. His work laid the foundation for understanding and diagnosing the disease, which affects millions of people, primarily in tropical and subtropical regions. Schistosomiasis is transmitted through contaminated water and can lead to severe health problems. Bilharz's contributions to medicine have had a lasting impact on public health efforts to control and treat this disease.