Self Diagnosis as a Possible Means of Diagnosing Urinary Schistosomiasis among School Children in an Endemic Community in Nigeria.

Self diagnosis as a possible means of diagnosing urinary schistosomiasis in an endemic community was studied among school children aged 1 -15 years in Adim community, Biase Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria. Questionnaire and parasitological data were collected from 900 children randomly selected from all the schools in Adim community. Parasitological analysis revealed infection in 357 (39.7%). Children within the ages of 14 years and above had the highest prevalence rate 36 (66.7%). Male subjects had a higher prevalence rate of infection 195 (39.9%) than the females 162 (39.4) but there was no statistically significant difference in the distribution of infection by gender (P> 0.05). The percentage of children with knowledge of having the infection was 300 (33.3%) while those who truly had the infection were 357 (39.7%). The questionnaire data revealed that children of Adim community can easily detect the symptoms of urinary schistosomiasis but do not have knowledge of the aetiologic agents, mode of infection nor what to do if infected. We conclude that urinary schistosomiasis is still endemic in Adim Community and self diagnosis can be used as a possible means of diagnosing urinary schistosomiasis for the purpose of administering mass treatment and also monitoring outcome of the treatment in the community.