Reducing burden of hookworm disease in the management of upper abdominal pain in the tropics.
A prospective study of the stool samples of 129 rural patients with symptoms of upper abdominal pain, tenderness and indigestion was carried out from 2 February 1998 to 31 December 1998 and followed up to June 1999. The age range was 11-85 years, female:male ratio 2.4:1: 102 specimens were positive for helminths--Ancylostoma duodenale (hookworm) 80 (62%); Trichuris trichuria (threadworm) 12 (9.3%); Ascaris lumbricoides (large roundworm) 10 (7.76%); Strongyloides stercoralis three (2.3%); Taenia saginata (tapeworm) three (2.3%). The female:male ratio for hookworm was 3:1. Treatment with appropriate anthelminthic agents were given serially at each visit according to the result of faecal examination. At 6 months follow up 88 patients were free of symptoms, 60 of which were caused by helminths the hookworm group. Stool 'test and treat' strategy appears to be a cost-effective approach in the management of these patients.
Anyaeze
Chineme Michael
CM
Department of Surgery, Federal Medical Centre, PMB 1010, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria. cmany@ph.nipost.com.ng
D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000469:parasitology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D006376:Helminths / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006725:Hookworm Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies
D000871:Anthelmintics