title: Three-year prospective study of the evolution of Manson's schistosomiasis in north-east Brazil.
abstract: A cross-sectional study of morbidity associated with Schistosoma mansoni infection in an area in North-East Brazil where the disease is endemic was carried out in 1974. The survey was repeated in 1977, before mass treatment with oxamniquine, providing a cohort of 210 individuals who had both examinations. The high prevalence of hepatomegaly (over 80%) and of splenomegaly (over 15%) contrasted with rates of 10% and 1%, respectively, in a non-endemic area. Over the 3-year period hepatomegaly spontaneously regressed in 13% of patients, and splenomegaly regressed in 56%, a phenomenon most common in older individuals with light infections. Those with heavy infections--ie, 500 or more eggs per g faeces, had an excess risk of splenomegaly of 19.6% and, of its persistence, of 61.5%. Thus, intensity of infection was a critical factor in liver and spleen involvement, and programmes of chemotherapy that reduce infection should mitigate the risk of schistosomal morbidity.
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Sleigh
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Mott
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hoff
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Barreto
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Mota
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Maguire
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sherlock
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Weller
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006529:Hepatomegaly / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D010073:Oxamniquine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni; D012552:Schistosomiasis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D013163:Splenomegaly / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D010073:Oxamniquine