Comparison between case finding and public health educa-tion in eradication of schistosomiasis

الملخص EN

Objective : Schistosomiasis comprises a group of chronic disease caused by schistosomes.

Khoozestan (south of Iran) is an endemic area for Schistosomiasis haematobium.

This study is performed to evaluate the value of case finding, environment searching for snail vector and treatment of patients in control of schistosomiasis and to compare it with biologic control by environment improvement and health education. Methods and Materials : In 20 years we searched 162,085 sites of snail vector and 1,075,510 urine examination for schistosomiasis eggs in high risk areas. Results : From 162,085 searches, only 17, 829 (1.09%) was positive for vector snails and from 1, 075, 510 urine examination, there were only 1, 212 (0.11%) positive for eggs.

In this 20 years period, there was a decreased in positive sites for vector snail and positive urinalysis (in 1981,245 positive results, in 1993, 16 and 1993 to end of study zero).

Conclusion : It seems that search in.

environment or urine examination of persons who live in this areas is not cost effective and we recommended : 1.

Health education 2.

Environment improvement