Ultrasonographic evidence of urinary tract abnormalities in children infected with schistosoma haematobium in upper Egypt and its reversibility after chemotherpy

ABSTRACT

Urinary tract morbidity of S. haematobium and its reversibility following praziquantel therapy was studied on 557 rural school children and 142 age matched healthy urban controls using ultrasonography. The frequency of mild dilatation of the left pelvicalyceal system, was significantly more in infected than non infected rural and urban controls. The frequency of thickened bladder wall alone, irregularities in the Wall, localized hypertrophy and bladder polyps were significantly higher in infected rural and urban children. Regarding calcified bladder wall, no significant difference was found between infected and non infected rural children. The mean of urinary bladder wall thickness was significantly higher in infected rural children [5.5 +/- 3.1 mm] than non infected rural [4.5 +/- 2.3 mm], p < 0.05 and urban control children [2.1 +/- 0.3 mm] p < 0.01. A significant correlation was found between the bladder wall thickness and the intensity of infections r = 0.3, p 0.001. Treatment with praziquantel caused significant reduction of the dilatation of pelvicalyceal system from 5.6 to 1.6% and this reduction was significant p < 0.05. There was also significant reduction of thickened wall [from 49.6% to 18.4%, p < 0.01] and irregular wall [from 8% to 2.4%. p < 0.05]