Morbidity Due to Heavy Schistosoma mansoni Infections in a Recently Established Focus in Northern Senegal
- 1 May 1994
- journal article
- Published by American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene in The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
- Vol. 50 (5) , 575-579
- https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.1994.50.575
Abstract
A study of morbidity due to Schistosoma mansoni infection was carried out in Ndombo, a recently established but intense focus in northern Senegal. A random population sample (n = 422) was examined by repeated egg counts, standardized interviews, and clinical examinations. Egg counts were positive in 91%, with more than 1,000 eggs per gram of feces in 41% of the subjects. Abdominal discomfort was reported by 60% of the subjects, diarrhea by 33%; 17% of the stools were liquid upon inspection. Hepatomegaly was mostly mild and found in 7% of the subjects, mainly in males less than 20 years of age. Splenomegaly was detected in only 0.5% of the people examined. There was no significant correlation between the frequency of complaints or symptoms and egg counts. The remarkably mild morbidity in spite of the intense level of many infections may be explained by the recent nature of the focus; more severe chronic morbidity may develop in the future.Keywords
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