title: A feasibility study to determine if minimally trained medical students can identify markers of chronic parasitic infection using bedside ultrasound in rural Tanzania.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Parasitic infections pose a significant health risk in developing nations and are a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. In the Republic of Tanzania, the CDC estimates that 51.5% of the population is infected with one or more intestinal parasites. If diagnosed early, the consequences of chronic parasitic infection can potentially be avoided.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six first-year medical students were recruited to enroll patients in the study. They underwent ten hours of formal, hands-on, ultrasound which included basic cardiac, hepatobiliary, renal, pulmonary and FAST scan ultrasound. A World Health Organization protocol with published grading scales was adapted and used to assess for pathology in each patient's liver, bladder, kidneys, and spleen.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 59 patients were enrolled in the study. Students reported a sensitivity of 96% and specificity of 100% for the presence of a dome shaped bladder, a sensitivity and specificity of 100% for bladder thickening, a sensitivity and specificity of 100% for portal hypertension and ascites. The sensitivity was 81% with a specificity of 100% for presence of portal vein distention. The sensitivity was 100% with a specificity of 90% for dilated bowel.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ultrasound has shown a promise at helping to identify pathology in rural communities with limited resources such as Tanzania. Our data suggest that minimally trained first year medical students are able to perform basic ultrasound scans that can identify ultrasonographic markers of parasitic infections.
authors.affiliation: UC Irvine Health, Department of Emergency Medicine, Orange, California 92868, USA.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barsky
authors.affiliation: UC Irvine Health, Department of Emergency Medicine, Orange, California 92868, USA.
authors.forename: Lauren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kushner
authors.affiliation: UC Irvine Health, Department of Emergency Medicine, Orange, California 92868, USA.
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ansbro
authors.affiliation: UC Irvine Health, Department of Emergency Medicine, Orange, California 92868, USA.
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bowman
authors.affiliation: UC Irvine Health, Department of Emergency Medicine, Orange, California 92868, USA.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sassounian
authors.affiliation: UC Irvine Health, Department of Emergency Medicine, Orange, California 92868, USA.
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gustafson
authors.affiliation: UC Irvine Health, Department of Emergency Medicine, Orange, California 92868, USA.
authors.forename: Shadi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lahham
authors.affiliation: UC Irvine Health, Department of Emergency Medicine, Orange, California 92868, USA.
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Joseph
authors.affiliation: UC Irvine Health, Department of Emergency Medicine, Orange, California 92868, USA.
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Fox
keywords: Bedside ultrasound; Computed tomography; Parasitic infection; Tanzania