Incidence of urinary schistosomiasis among school children in a community in Ebonyi State, south-east Nigeria

Abstract

Schistosoma haematobium infection is one of the major public health problems in developing countries like Nigeria, with school age children at greater risk. A survey of Schistosoma haematobium infection was conducted among primary school-aged children in Mgbabor-Achara in Ezza North LGA of Ebonyi State, Nigeria, using sedimentation technique. Out of 245 pupils examined, 86 pupils were infected with Schistosoma haematobium with the mean intensity of 190.0 eggs/10 ml of urine. Among the infected pupils, 39% were males and 20% were females. There was significant difference in the prevalence based on sex. The disease was found to be higher in males than in females with the mean egg count also found to be greater in the former. Individuals aged l6-15 years had more infection and the intensity of infection was higher among the males. Statistical analysis revealed that haematuria were significantly more in subjects under the age of 20 than subjects above 20 years of age. The area is traversed by slow running streams which constitute a major source of water supply to most of the people in that community. Hence water contact activities like bathing, swimming and washing were inferred to be possible contributory factors for schistosomiasis around the study-area. Keywords: Schistosomiasis; haematuria; Ebonyi.