COMPARATIVE OCCURRENCE OF URINARY SCHISTOSOMIASIS AND ITS DIAGNOSTIC ANALYTES AMONG CHILDREN IN SECONDARY AND PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN UNGWAN KUGU, ZARIA

Abstract

Urinary schistosomiasis is persistent in Nigeria. This study compared the occurrence of urinary schistosomiasis and its urinary analytes among secondary and primary school children in Ungwan Kugu, Zaria. Randomly selected school children (comprised of 100 each) from secondary and primary schools were included in the study. Each urine sample (10ml) provided by the participants was subjected to urinalysis and centrifugation at 3000rpm for 5 minutes. The sediment was microscopically examined for eggs of Schistosoma haematobium. Occurrence of urinary schistosomiasis was 15.0% and 11.0% among children in secondary and primary schools respectively. Secondary school children between 18-20 years old had higher occurrence of the infection (18.6%); while those between 11-14 years old were more infected in primary school (14.8%). Males were significantly more infected than females in both groups (P<0.05). Significant risk factors common to both groups included swimming, fishing and washing in streams (P<0.05). Irrigation farming was a significant risk factor among children in secondary school (P<0.05); while lack of awareness and sourcing of water from streams were significant (P<0.05) among those in primary school. Frequent urination, abdominal pain and terminal haematuria were significant symptoms of the disease in both groups (P<0.05). Painful urination (P<0.05) was significant only among those in secondary school. Significant urinary analytes of urinary schistosomiasis in both groups included leukocytes, proteins and microhaematuria. Urine specific gravity above 1.015 was associated with the infection among primary school children. These findings underscore the need for increased awareness and broadened administration of Praziquantel to children in affected areas.