Archaeologists have uncovered ancient evidence of infection by a parasitic worm that causes schistosomiasis, a disease that ails millions of people today.

The eggs of the parasitic worm were found in a child's skeleton, unearthed in northern Syria, which was deemed to be more than 6,200 years old. The archaeologists said the parasite's eggs were lodged in the pelvic area of the child's skeleton.

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The new discovery not only gave scientists prehistoric clues to schistosomiasis and other diseases caused b parasitic worms, but also to the beginnings of farm irrigation systems.

They said ancient societies may have discovered how to irrigate their crops for better yield more than 6,200 years ago, as the child skeleton's age suggests, because parasitic flatworms whose eggs were found in the child skeleton are water-borne.

People in that ancient society may have waded a lot through their irrigation systems, hence contracting the parasitic infection, the scientists explained.

Parasitic flatworms thrive in this condition as it is the most ideal for them to jump into humans. Snails are often the carriers of this parasite that can burrow into the skin.

Flatworms can live in the kidneys, intestines and the bladder for years.

People who have these parasites experience fever, rash, vomiting, abdominal pain and even get their legs paralyzed.

Today, more than 200 million people around the world have been affected by schistosomiasis, which is caused by parasitic flatworms.  Prescription drugs that kill these worms are now readily available.

With the excavation of the parasite-bearing 6,200-year old skeleton, University of Chicago archaeology professor Dr. Gil Stein, who co-authored a study on the recent discovery, concluded that the discovery of irrigation practices was a major breakthrough for mankind, but it also paved the way for the spread of water-borne, parasite-induced diseases.

Another author of the study, Piers Mitchell, said that early farming-improvement practices may have unwittingly spread the disease-causing parasitic flatworms worldwide, adding that even modern irrigation systems adopted by modern society still spur outbreaks of disease.

Tagsparasite, flatworm, Gil Stein, University of Chicago, schistosomiasis