Schistosomiasis among primary school pupils in Pilgani Distric, Langtang North Local Government Area, Plateau State, Nigeria

Anthony Dawet,Enock B Lumi,David P Yakubu,Emmanuel Bulus,Blessing N Joachim

doi:10.30574/gscbps.2019.9.1.0135

Anthony Dawet, Enock B Lumi + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.30574/gscbps.2019.9.1.0135

Copy DOI

Abstract

Schistosomiasis caused chronic infection which can affect all aspects of a person’s health and learning especially among school children. This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of schistosomiasis among school children in Pilgani District, Langtang North LGA, Plateau State. Two prelabeled specimen bottles were given to each school pupil for stool and urine samples collection. The stool samples were prepared using formal-ether concentration technique and examined for Schistosoma mansoni while the urine samples were centrifuged and the deposits was examined for S. haematobium. Reagent strips were used to detect microhaematuria and proteinuria in the urine samples. Out of the 284 school pupils examined, 70 (24.65 %) were infected among which 56(31.83 %) were males and 14 (12.96 %) were females. The age group 15 – 16 had the highest infection (38.89 %) while children within age group 5 – 6 had the least infection (11. 76 %). Pupils that used streams as their source of water had the highest infection but no infection was recorded among children using borehole water. There was significant (P

Highlights

Schistosomiasis is an infectious disease caused by blood flukes of the genus Schistosoma
31[70.45%] out of the 44 infected with S. haematobium tested positive for microhaematuria [sensitivity] while 13[29.55%] of the infected tested negative for microhaematuria [false negative]
The inability to create awareness to the target groups most especially children, adolescents/young adults on the basic knowledge of the disease, vectors, cause, sources of infection and prevention are major factors fascilitating its endemicity. This is important because primary school children for instance, are used to micturating and defecating in water bodies which aids the spreading of the disease

Summary

Introduction

Schistosomiasis is an infectious disease caused by blood flukes (trematode worms) of the genus Schistosoma. Schistosomiasis ranks second only to malaria as the most common parasitic disease, and are the most deadly NTD, killing an estimated 280,000 people each year in the African region alone [1]. The disease is prevalent in tropical and subtropical areas, especially in poor communities without access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation. Estimates show that at least 206.4 million people required preventive treatment for schistosomiasis in 2016 and at least 91.4 % of those requiring treatment for schistosomiasis live in Africa [2]. School-age children who live in these areas or immigrants who are exposed to contaminated freshwater, are often most at risk because they tend to spend time swimming or bathing in water containing infectious cercariae [https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/schistosomiasis/epi.html Last accessed on 26/12/2018 4.56 am]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion