ABSTRACT
Rotaviruses are the major cause of gastroenteritis and diarrhea in infants and young children worldwide. Basic epidemiological data concerning rotaviruses among infants and children are necessary for health planners and care providers in Sudan. Cross-sectional study was conducted at Omdurman Pediatric Hospital, Sudan to investigate the frequency of rotavirus infection and associated possible risk factors among children. The solid-phase sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA] was used to detect rotavirus antigens. Structured questionnaire was used to gather socio-demographic data. Out of 92 diarrheal cases, 23 were rotavirus-antigen positive [25%]. Most of the positive subjects [91.3%] were in children less than 3 years of age and the infection rate decreased with the increasing age [p>.05]. Children infected with rotaviruses were more likely to have vomiting [82.6%] [p > 0.05] and fairly low frequency of fever [60.9%] [p > 0.05]. Out of the 23 rotavirus positive subjects, 13 [30.2%] were breast-fed, 6 [25%] were both breast and bottle-fed and 4 [16.6%] were neither breast nor bottle-fed [p > 0.05]. Furthermore, the antibiotic treated children revealed the highest percentage of rotavirus antigen [26.9%] compared to the non-treated children [14.3%]. Rotavirus frequency was 25% among children less than 5 years. Rotavirus vaccine, routine and proper diagnosis of rotavirus infection in children with acute diarrhea help to determine appropriate treatment, prevents the unnecessary use of antibiotics and minimizes the spread of the disease among susceptible children in Sudan
Subject(s)
Humans , Diarrhea/virology , Child , Hospitals, Pediatric , Gastroenteritis , Infant , Cross-Sectional StudiesABSTRACT
An intervention study was conducted in Khamir, north of Sana'a, for control of urinary schistosomiasis using chemotherapy and health education. The validity and cost-effectiveness of reagent strips as a rapid diagnostic tool to screen for Schistosoma haematobium infection was also assessed along with visible haematuria. Prevalence of S. haematobium infection 14 months post-intervention fell from 58.9% to 5.8% and frequency of heavy infection from 40.0% to 18.9%. Health education sessions resulted in significant decrease in the frequency of contact with water sources and greater adherence to preventive measures. Mass chemotherapy plus health education is a feasible and effective method for reducing S. haematobium infection in Yemen. Reagent strips and visible haematuria could be cost-effective in remote areas with limited access to health services
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Prevalence , Health Education , Program Evaluation , Hematuria , Cost-Benefit Analysis , Drug TherapyABSTRACT
An intervention study was conducted in Khamir, north of Sana'a, for control of urinary schistosomiasis using chemotherapy and health education. The validity and cost-effectiveness of reagent strips as a rapid diagnostic tool to screen for Schistosoma haematobium infection was also assessed along with visible haematuria. Prevalence of S. haematobium infection 14 months post-intervention fell from 58.9% to 5.8% and frequency of heavy infection from 40.0% to 18.9%. Health education sessions resulted in significant decrease in the frequency of contact with water sources and greater adherence to preventive measures. Mass chemotherapy plus health education is a feasible and effective method for reducing S. haematobium infection in Yemen. Reagent strips and visible haematuria could be cost-effective in remote areas with limited access to health services
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Male , Adolescent , Child , Cost-Benefit Analysis , Feasibility Studies , Parasite Egg Count , PrevalenceABSTRACT
B. arabica and B. truncatus the snail intermediate hosts of intestinal and urinary schistosomiasis in Yemen Arab Republic, were bred in the laboratory and infected with S. mansoni and S. haematobium, respectively. Schistosome infection caused a marked decrease in the glycogen and protein contents in the tissue of B. arabica and B. truncatus. The glucose content in the hemolymph of both infected snails was lower than that in the normal snails