The Merits of Urine Color Observation as a Rapid Diagnostic Technique to Estimate Schistosoma Haematobium Infection in Two Endemic Areas of Benue State, Nigeria

Abstract

Schistosomiasis is the most prevalent parasitic infection in the world after malaria, with nearly 207 people infected, and 779 million currently at risk in 76 countries of the tropics where the disease is endemic (Steinmann et al., 2006). In sub-Saharan Africa, about 192 million are found to be infected with schistosomiasis (Hotez and Kamath, 2009).The highest prevalence and intensities of human schistosomiasis occur in school-aged children, adolescents, and young adults who also suffer from the highest morbidity and mortality. Urinary Schistosomiasis due Schistosoma haematobium is a significant cause of clinical morbidity and disability in the endemic countries of Africa and the Middle East, where more than 110 million people are infected (van der Werf and de Vlas, 2001). In sub-Saharan Africa two-thirds of the schistosomiasis cases are due to Schistosoma haematobium, which represents an important cause of severe urinary tract disease (van der Werf et al., 2000). They also estimated that 70 million and 32 million individuals out of 682 million people in sub-Saharan Africa had experienced hematuria and dysuria, respectively, within the last two weeks of their reports. S. haematobium produces bladder wall pathology in approximately 18 million people in sub-Saharan Africa, and 10 million people suffer from hydronephrosis (van der Werf et al., 2000). Renal failure accounts for a large percentage of the estimated 150,000 deaths from urinary tract schistosomiasis in sub-Saharan Africa, and significant association was observed between major bladder wall pathology and squamous cell carcinoma (Maxwell, 2008). A significant percentage of women and men with urinary schistosomiasis acquire genital ulcers and other lesions (King and Dangerfield-cha, 2008). Identification of cases or communities for treatment with Schistosoma haematobium infection is usually based on microscopic detection of eggs in urine. Haematuria and proteinuria are recognized clinical features of S.haematobium infection (Wilkins, 1977). Many epidemiological studies have been conducted to investigate the characteristics of these methods to measure urinary schistosomiasis; this usually involved comparing the outcomes with intensity of infection.