Schistosoma haematobium among Pupils in Yewa North, Southwestern Nigeria: Assessment of Two Consecutive Praziquantel Treatments with 180 Days Interval

Abstract

Praziquantel is among the drug of choice for the effective treatment of Schistosoma haematobium infection for 30 years. Early and regular administration of this drug for optimal control and reduction of long – term consequences of morbidity is currently being advocated. The effect of treatment and retreatment with Praziquantel among pupils in S. haematobium endemic communities of Yewa North of Ogun State, Nigeria was evaluated. This cross-sectional study was conducted with 734 pupils (aged 3-17 years) between September 2011 and June 2012. Urine samples were examined microscopically for S. haematobium eggs. Infected pupils were treated with single dose praziquantel. Re-examination of pupils was carried out 8 weeks post treatment. Pupils in Government primary school were treated twice with 180 days interval. Data were analysed using Chi-Square and MANOVA for significant variations in prevalence. Pretreatment prevalence was 30.11% while prevalence after treatment was 9.05 % with a reduction rate of 69.90%. Post treatment prevalence of 10.7% in males and 7.3% in females were not significantly different (?2 =1.5885, P>0.05). Pretreatment total mean egg count was 102.5?17.4 eggs /10ml of urine, with a 91.24% egg reduction rate and parasitological cure rate of 90.95%. Egg reduction and cure rates of 100% each were observed after the second treatment in Yewa North Local Government Primary School. Repeated treatment with 6 months interval suggests the possibility of elimination of schistosome egg burden.