Author/Authors :
Bassiouny, H.K. University of Alexandria - High Institute of Public Health - Department of Tropical Health, Egypt , Hasab, A.A. University of Alexandria - High Institute of Public Health - Department of Epidemiology, Egypt , El-Nimr, N.A. University of Alexandria - High Institute of Public Health - Department of Epidemiology, Egypt , Al-Shibani, L.A. University of Sana’a - Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences - Department of Medical Parasitology, Yemen , Al- Waleedi, A.A. University of Aden - Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences - Department of Medical Parasitology, Yemen
Abstract :
Schistosomiasis ranks second to malaria in terms of socioeconomic and public health importance in Yemen. This study assessed the validity of a morbidity questionnaire and urine reagent strips as a rapid tool for screening schoolchildren for urinary schistosomiasis as compared with the presence of eggs in urine as the goldstandard parasitological diagnosis. The study examined urine samples and interviewed 696 children (mean age 12.5 years) attending a primary–preparatory school in south Yemen. Urinary schistosomiasis was confirmed in 126 (18.1%) children. Diagnostic performance was poor for 2 items in the morbidity questionnaire (self-reported history of previous infection and self-reported history of antischistosomal treatment). However, self-reported dysuria, selfreported haematuria in the questionnaire and microhaematuria by reagent strips (alone or with macrohaematuria) revealed good diagnostic performance. The results indicated that reagent strips are a valid method for detection of microhaematuria for identifying individuals and communities infected with Schistosoma haematobium.
