Schistosoma mansoni as a cause of bloody stool in children

To identify the frequency of schistosoma mansoni as a cause of bloody stool or diarrhea and study the clinical, laboratory, radiological characteristics and regional distribution in Hajjah governorate. This was a hospital based study conducted in Hajjah town, from April 1997 to May 1999. Medical charts were reviewed for age, sex, area of residency, clinical presentation, number of previous schistosoma mansoni infections, possible causes of bloody stool or diarrhea, number of hospital visits and results of any radiological studies made. Three hundred and sixty patients presented to the pediatric clinic with a history of bloody stool, 156 [43%] with schistosoma mansoni, older children formed 83% and boys 79.5%. Ninety five and a half per cent were from Hajjah governorate, 67% were from Hajjah town. Previous schistosoma mansoni infection was found in 19% and in 20% there was other associated parasitic infestation. Schistosoma mansoni is a major health problem in Hajjah governorate. Older boys were the most at risk group. Patients in rural regions had difficulties in reaching the hospital, indicated by their low percentage compared to patients from urban areas

Visceral leishmaniasis in children in the Yemen

The clinical presentation and duration of therapy for visceral leishmaniasis varies in different countries. The sodium stibogluconate is costly, and a trial of short course therapy has not yet been studied in Hajjah governorate. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a 20 days regimen of sodium stibogluconate and to ascertain the epidemiological, clinical and laboratory features of visceral leishmaniasis in children. This was a prospective hospital-based study in Hajjah Governorate, Republic of Yemen. Children of 12 years of age or less with a confirmed diagnosis were included. Sodium stibogluconate was given in a dose of 15mg/kg/dose daily for 20 days, then the patients were re-evaluated and the data required for achieving the other objective was collected. Thirty-two patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The age ranged from 12 months to 144 months [67.7 +/- 35]. Females formed 53% of this criteria. The duration of symptoms ranged from 2 weeks to 116 weeks. Fever, fatigability and abdominal distension were the most common symptoms. The hematological findings showed anemia in all patients, leukopenia in 81% and thrombocytopenia in 56%. Formol gel test was negative in 20 patients [63%]. Malaria smear was positive in 11 patients [34%]. Splenic aspiration was carried out in 25 patients [78%] and bone marrow aspiration in 7 patients [22%]. Blood transfusion were required for 24 patients [73%]. After 20 days treatment with pentostam, 20 patients [63%] came for follow-up and re-tested for parasitological cure. Half of those were still positive for leishmania donovan bodies. The mortality rate was 5%. The clinical features were of the Mediterranean type. Twenty days treatment with sodium stibogluconate was not adequate