title: Assessing the WHO 50% prevalence threshold in school-aged children as indication for treatment of urogenital schistosomiasis in adults in central Nigeria.
abstract: Preventive chemotherapy with praziquantel is recommended in adults by the World Health Organization when prevalence of schistosomiasis in school-aged children (SAC) is ≥ 50%. This study ascertained the value of this threshold in predicting prevalence and intensity of Schistosoma hematobium (SH) infection in adults in central Nigeria. We evaluated urogenital schistosomiasis prevalence in 1,164 adults: 659 adults in 12 communities where mean hematuria among SAC in 2008 was 26.6% and 505 adults in 7 communities where the mean hematuria among SAC in 2008 was 70.4%. No statistically significant differences were found between the two groups of adults in prevalence of hematuria, prevalence of SH eggs, or intensity of infections. We conclude that, in this setting, the SAC threshold is not useful for treatment decisions in adults. Given the increased risk of subtle morbidity or urogenital schistosomiasis as a risk factor for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), more liberal treatment of adults with praziquantel is warranted.
authors: The Carter Center, Atlanta, GA 30307, USA. dsevans@emory.edu
authors: Darin S
authors: DS
authors: Evans
authors: Jonathan D
authors: JD
authors: King
authors: Abel
authors: A
authors: Eigege
authors: John
authors: J
authors: Umaru
authors: William
authors: W
authors: Adamani
authors: Kal
authors: K
authors: Alphonsus
authors: Yohanna
authors: Y
authors: Sambo
authors: Emmanual S
authors: ES
authors: Miri
authors: Danjuma
authors: D
authors: Goshit
authors: Gladys
authors: G
authors: Ogah
authors: Frank O
authors: FO
authors: Richards
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D011223:Praziquantel / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015995:Prevalence; D012553:Schistosomiasis haematobia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014944:World Health Organization
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics; D011223:Praziquantel
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