RESUMO
Schistosomiasis has been associated with kidney diseases leading to serious health problems especially in advanced cases. Most studies have used renal biopsy, and ultrasonography in the diagnosis of renal damage among urogenital schistosomiasis affected individuals. This study assessed serum urea, creatinine, and eGFR as biochemical markers of renal abnormalities in children with urogenital schistosomiasis (Schistosoma haematobium) at a resource limited setting in Sorodofo-Abaasa in the Central Region of Ghana. A case-control study was conducted among 116 basic school children aged 9 to 17 years from January 2015 to May 2015 at Sorodofo-Abaasa in the Abura Asebu Kwamankese District of the Central Region of Ghana. A pre-tested questionnaire was used to obtain information on age, sex, guardian's occupation, water contact activities, history of gross haematuria and history of medication. Participants weight and height were measured using a bathroom scale (Zhongshan Camry Electronic Co. Ltd, Guangdong-China) and a wall-mounted ruler to the nearest 0.1 kg and 0.1 cm respectively. Approximately 4 ml of venous blood sample was collected from the median cubital vein of the study participants and used for the estimation of serum urea and creatinine levels. eGFR (mL/min/1.73 m2) was calculated using the Schwartz equation. The average ages of the cases and the controls recruited in this study were 12.7 ± 1.0 and 12. ± 2.6 years respectively. The median (minimum-maximum) did not differ between cases and controls with regards to eGFR [115.92(62.40-164.98) vs 112.50(51.82-170.36; p = 0.806], serum creatinine [57.20(28.91-84.67) vs 58.19(25.17-90.21); p = 0.876], and urea [9.82(5.80-13.74) vs 10.21(7.29-13.03); p = 0.586]. Hyperfiltration though statistically similar (p = 0.787), was observed among a higher proportion of the controls (20.5%) than observed among the cases (18.4%). This study documented no significant differences between children with light (less than 50 ova per 10 ml urine) and heavy (more than 50 ova per 10 ml urine) infection. This study documented no significant variation in the biochemical markers of renal function between the cases and controls. S. haematobium Infection intensity did not significantly alter the renal physiology of the school children studied.
RESUMO
Intestinal parasitic infections presents a significant public health concern in developing countries. The study determined the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection of children under 5 years. A cross-sectional prospective study was conducted at Dodi Papase, a town in the Kadjebi district of the Oti region of Ghana. Stool samples were collected from 152 children under 5 years and examined for the presence of intestinal parasites using Kato-Katz technique. Additionally, venous blood samples were collected from participants into EDTA tubes and analyzed for their hemoglobin concentration using the Sysmex XS-500i automated hematology analyzer All laboratory analyses were done at the Ho Teaching Hospital Laboratory. Overall prevalence of intestinal helminthic infections was 44.08% (67/152). Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and Hookworm recorded 20.39%, 10.53% and 13.16% prevalence respectively. Children aged 4 years recorded the highest prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections vis-à-vis 50.00% A. lumbricoides and 37.50% Hookworm while children below age 2 years recorded the lowest. T. trichiura infection was highest among children below age 2 years (44.44%) and lowest among children aged 4 years. This study recorded an overall parasitic infections of 44.08%. This therefore calls for periodic screening, anti-helminthic treatment of these children as well as intensified education on attitudinal/behavioral change on improved personal and environmental hygiene in order to help control the menace of intestinal parasitic infections.