Vol.3 No.4 – 6: Schistosomiasis haematobium Prevalence and Risk factors in EL-Fayoum Governorate, Egypt

By : Ahmed Abdelhalim Yameny

Society of Pathological Biochemistry and Hematology, Egypt

Ahmed A. Yameny (Email: dr.ahmedyameny@yahoo.com)

Abstract

Schistosoma haematobium infection is an important water-borne disease in Egypt, its prevalence decreased to less than 0.2 % (2016). There are more than 300 villages in Egypt with a prevalence of more than 3%, especially among school children, Which require prolonged treatment and continuous examinations, The Ministry of Health and Population in Egypt has announced the start of a campaign to confirm the final elimination of schistosomiasis by 2020, this study was conducted to detect the prevalence of  Schistosoma haematobium and risk factors among 1000 patients attending Ministry of Health Laboratory Centers, in El-Fayoum Governorate by microscopic examination in rural and urban areas, the prevalence among study patients was 7.9%, an interview questionnaire was designed to obtain demographic data and risk factors, such as residential status, age,  water contact activity, occupation, and education level, the higher percentage of infection was 10.3% among 11-21 years group, infection among males was higher than that among females (9.0% vs.6. 8% respectively). The percentage of infection was 11.2 % for rural residence compared to 2.4% for urban residence, regarding occupation the higher percentage of infection was 27.6% among farmers and /or fishermen. According to contact with canal water, the percentage of infection among those who had water contact was 16.9% and only 0.9% for people with no water contact. This study, therefore, recommended that a schistosomiasis control program in these infected areas should be done to educate the population on risk factors that predispose an individual to urinary schistosomiasis and the need for proper control of snails the intermediate host besides treatment of infected people.

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