Some aspects in the control of schistosomosis and soil-transmitted helminthosis in Yemeni children

Objective: Prevalence, intensity and incidence of schistosomosis and soil-t ransmitted helminthosis among school children in an ignored area in Yemen w ere determined. The study aimed to investigate the impact of single doses o f Praziquantel or Albenedazole or bath, relating to sanitary, socioeconomic :and behavioral practices on the prevalence and intensity of infections. Methods: Out of a total number of 897 pupils, 453 were randomly selected fr om AlMahweet town and 444 from rural surrounding areas. Millipore filtratio n, modified Kato and precipitation techniques were applied for urine and st ool analysis. Results: Prevalence rates were 27% for schistosomosis, 61% for ascariosis, 21% for trichuriosis, 2% for fascilosis, 0.3% for entrobiosis, 0.7% for hoo k worm infection and 0.2% for strongloydiosis. Factors found confounding th e relationship between schistosomosis and residence, under logistic regress ion analysis, were sex and frequency of water contact. Probability of infec tion by Bilharzia for boys who reside in rural AlMahweet and visit the wate r source is 0.52, compared to 0.30 for their mates who reside in AlMahweet town. Odds ratio estimates accounted for via residence was 2.5, via water c ontact 1.7 and via boys 3.2. With regards to other helminthic infections, a vailability of latrines remained the only significant factor under ANOVA. Conclusion: In conclusion, annual campaigns for treatment as a single contr ol measure can reduce the infection rate of S. mansoni Dy 62.5%, T. trichur a by 48% and A. lumbricoidas by 24%. Whereas for S. hematobium the appropri ate time interval for intervention should be shortened according to the fin dings of a properly designed intervention study before used as a single con trol measure. Since 77% of the children were infected by other helminthes, therefore moss treatment should be extended to cover all children. For thos e boys in rural AlMahweet who visited the water source during the week befo re the interview, mass treatment for schistosomosis is recommended since th e prediction of infection rate reached 52%.