Prevalence of schistosomiasis in children presenting to Sam Hospital, Sana'a city republic of Yemen

Abstract AR

Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of schistosomiasis in children presenting to Sam Hospital Sanaa City, Republic of Yemen.

Methods: This record-based study was done in Sam Hospital, Sanaa City during four and half years, from January 1, 1999 to June 30, 2003.

Patients seen for different causes through that period numbered 103000.

Some of the patients had intestinal symptoms, colicky abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea, or urinary symptoms, frequency, dysuria, and hematuria and were subjected to laboratory investigation, (stool, urine analysis and complete blood cell count).

Data about age, sex and place were also collected.

Results: Stool and urine examinations were carried out in 23100 patients, 14414 were males and 8686 were females; only 82 (3.55%) of them were diagnosed as positive for schistosomiasis by identifying the eggs in stool or urine.

The mean age of the patients was 12.2 years.

Males numbered 70 (85.4%) while females numbered 12 (14.6%).

All patients had a history of water contact in rural areas around Sana'a City.

Schistosoma mansoni infections constituted 85.4% (70patients) and Schistosoma haematobium affected 14.6% (12 patients).

More than two thirds of the infected patients were above 9 years.

All infected children had eosinophils > 5% (5-79%) of the total white blood cells.

Conclusion: Infections are endemic in rural areas around Sana'a City.

The prevalence of Schistosoma mansoni was higher than Schistosoma haematobium, and also -the prevalence of infection increased with age.

Schistosomiasis affected males more than females.