Hydrocelectomy As An Indicator For The Occurrence And Spread Of Lymphatic Filariasis In Kano State, Nigeria

Abstract

Lymphatic filariasis is endemic in Nigeria, but the level of endemicity is unknown because many areas in the country remain unstudied. The Nigeria Lymphatic Filariasis Elimination Program (NLFEP) has set an ambitious target of 2015 to eliminate this disease. The success of this program depends on the use of an inexpensive, easy, and simple method to both identify and treat endemic communities. Hydrocoele is one of the chronic symptoms of lymphatic filariasis that is surgically treated in major hospitals in areas where the disease is endemic. Hydrocelectomy has been used as an index to determine the prevalence of lymphatic filariasis in certain endemic communities. The aim of this work is to determine the prevalence of hydrocelectomy in hospitals to assess the occurrence and spread of lymphatic filariasis in Kano State, Nigeria. To accomplish this goal, the prevalence of hydrocelectomy was investigated from 1994–2003 in 20 hospitals spread across eight of the nine Zonal Health Centers (ZHCs) in Kano State. The data obtained were analyzed using simple frequencies and percentages with respect to the specific hospital examined, patient age and type of hydrocoele on which hydrocelectomy was performed. Of 54,943 surgeries performed in 20 hospitals, 1,271 (2.31%) were hydrocelectomies. The prevalence of hydrocelectomy among the hospitals and ZHC cases ranged from 59 (0.16%) to 121 (29.4%) and from 59 (0.16%) to 325 (12.9%), respectively. The frequency of hydrocelectomy cases showed an initial rise with patient age, reaching a peak at the older age groups and then dropping thereafter. Although the overall prevalence of hydrocelectomy is generally low, its prevalence in all the hospitals surveyed strongly suggests that lymphatic filariasis may be prevalent and widespread throughout the state. However, none reflection of the domicile of the patients coupled with poor record taking/keeping and storage made it impossible to use the results in selecting villages for further epidemiological studies. Therefore there is need to develop a standard and sustainable system of taking and keeping records; and storage in Kano State hospitals for effective planning and research.