Prevalence Of Urinary Schistosoma Among Population Aged 1-18 Years Attending Gumel General Hospital, Jigawa State Of Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Schistosomiasis, caused by the parasitic worm Schistosoma haematobium, is a significant public health concern in Nigeria. Understanding the prevalence of this infection is crucial for implementing effective control measures. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the prevalence of Schistosoma haematobium among patients attending Gumel General Hospital in Jigawa State, Nigeria. Aim: Determine the prevalence of Schistosoma haematobium infections among patients attending Gumel General Hospital. Materials and Methods: A total of 120 urine samples were collected from patients at Gumel General Hospital. The collected urine samples were examined in the Biology laboratory of Jigawa State College of Education, Gumel. Physical and microscopic analyses were conducted using the filtration technique to identify Schistosoma infections. Results: The microscopic examination revealed that males had a higher infection rate (2.5%) than females (1.6%). However, statistical analysis showed no significant difference between the infection rates in males and females. Notably, the age group of 10-18 years recorded all positive cases in the study. The overall prevalence of 4.1% indicated that Schistosoma haematobium was less prevalent in the study area. Conclusion: The study provided valuable insights into the prevalence of Schistosoma haematobium in Gumel, Jigawa State, Nigeria. The higher infection rate among males warrants attention, and further research should explore neighboring areas for a comprehensive understanding of the disease's distribution. Additionally, efforts should be made to diagnose and treat infected individuals promptly to prevent further spread of the infection.