Researchers from Nigeria did a study to determine the prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis caused by Schistosoma haemotobium in pre-school children in the rural community of Ilewo-Orile. The study is published in the latest issue of Parasites and Vectors.
In Nigeria, in an effort to control schistosomiasis, mass treatment with praziquantel is standard in the Nigerian school system. The researchers were interested in pre-school children (ages 1-6) since there is no such treatment as there is in school age children.
To determine the level of infection with the parasite, two urine samples were collected from each child (167). One urine sample was for a dipstick test to determine the presence of blood in the urine. The other sample was processed and examined microscopically for the eggs of S. haemotobium.
Of the 167 kids tested, 97, or 58 percent of the children were infected. Infection of pre-school children early in life was due to exposures through bathing in the stream by their mothers, while the older children would visit the stream for washing, fetching of water, bathing and swimming.
What is urinary schistosomiasis?
It is a complex of acute and chronic diseases caused by the trematode parasite Schistosoma haemotobium. Unlike related schistosomes, S. haemotobium inhabits the venules of the bladder.
Pathology of S. haematobium schistosomiasis includes: hematuria (blood in the urine), scarring, calcification, bladder carcinoma, and occasional embolic egg granulomas in brain or spinal cord.
S. haemotobium is endemic in Africa and parts of the Middle East. The schistosomes are found in fresh water. People get infected by exposure to water contaminated with the parasite. This water gets contaminated by infected people working in the rice field, fisherman in the lake or children playing who indiscriminately defecate or urinate in the water.
According to the study, the conclusion is community participatory health education is needed in this community as a first step in reducing infection and transmission of the disease, while the rehabilitation and repair of the existing water borehole system in the community should be effected. The results of this study have shown that pre-school children also harbour infection and are a source of transmission of schistosomiasis in endemic communities.
Planning and provision for their treatment should be considered in control programs.
Comments