Revista Europea de Biología Experimental Acceso abierto

Abstracto

Study of the prevalence of Schistosoma haematobium infection and the treatment using praziquantel among school children in Ezza north local government area of Ebonyi state, Southeast Nigeria

Nneka L. Ozowara, Oliver O. Njoku, Oliver O. Odikamnoro, Cosmos Uhuo

A study was carried out to determine the efficacy of praziquantel (PZQ) against S haematabium, in Ezza North Local Goveernment Area of Ebonyi State from January through March 2009. Of the combined total of 812 pupils examined, 375 (46.18%, 95% confidence interval (C.I.), 42.6- 49.4%) were positive for S. haematobium. Children (n = 310) infected with S. haematobium received a single treatment with praziquantel (40mg/kg) and 300 were re – examined after five weeks post-treatment. Cure rate at three weeks post-treatment were high (> 69.00). There were no significant differences in cure rate between the three schools, sex and age (P < 0.05). The remaining 31% that was not cured could be as a result of either that worms were killed very slowly, non-compliance to treatment, drug resistance, or more likely that eggs continued to be released from tissues after the death of adult worms. Since children were in contact with transmission sites during the study period, the result suggested good efficacy of PZQ against S. haematobium infection.