[Prevalence of Schistosoma mansoni infection in two municipalities of the State of Alagoas, Brazil].
BACKGROUND
Preliminary studies indicate a probable schistosomiasis expansion in Alagoas. This work analyzes the occurrence of Schistosoma mansoni in students from two municipalities, located in the Mundaú and Paraíba rivers basins.


METHODS
The study group consisted of 690 students in the urban area, aged between seven and 15 years. A standardized socio-economic questionnaire was filled out and parasitological tests were used to diagnosis schistosomiasis (Lutz and Kato methods). Positive cases were treated and students and their families were lectured about health education.


RESULTS
The Schistosoma mansoni prevalence was 24.9%. The association between schistosomiasis and other parasitic diseases was significant in relation to trichuriasis (p <0.05). Only 50% of infected children lived in brick homes with sanitation and public water supply. Among them, 48.1% used to go usually to the water collections and 55.8% of them knew rivers snails. The concordance analysis between the Lutz and Kato methods showed disagreement in 54.2%, with greater sensitivity for the Lutz technique (76.4%).


CONCLUSIONS
The indices obtained characterize the municipalities as hyperendemic areas, because prevalence rates over 5% are considered high according to the World Health Organization. The high prevalence observed here is also two times higher than that reported by the Brazilian Schistosomiasis Program Control.
Palmeira
Danylo César Correia
DC
Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Maceió, AL.
Carvalho
Adriano Gonçalves de
AG
Rodrigues
Katyane
K
Couto
Janira Lúcia Assumpção
JL
D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014505:Urban Population