Rapid diagnosis of schistosomiasis in Yemen using a simple questionnaire and urine reagent strips.

Schistosomiasis ranks second to malaria in terms of socioeconomic and public health importance in Yemen. This study assessed the validity of a morbidity questionnaire and urine reagent strips as a rapid tool for screening schoolchildren for urinary schistosomiasis as compared with the presence of eggs in urine as the gold-standard parasitological diagnosis. The study examined urine samples and interviewed 696 children (mean age 12.5 years) attending a primary-preparatory school in south Yemen. Urinary schistosomiasis was confirmed in 126 (18.1%) children. Diagnostic performance was poor for 2 items in the morbidity questionnaire (self-reported history of previous infection and self-reported history of antischistosomal treatment). However, self-reported dysuria, self-reported haematuria in the questionnaire and microhaematuria by reagent strips (alone or with macrohaematuria) revealed good diagnostic performance. The results indicated that reagent strips are a valid method for detection of microhaematuria for identifying individuals and communities infected with Schistosoma haematobium.

Rapid diagnosis of schistosomiasis in Yemen using a simple questionnaire and urine reagent strips

Schistosomiasis ranks second to malaria in terms of socioeconomic and public health importance in Yemen.This study assessed the validity of a morbidity questionnaire and urine reagent strips as a rapid tool for screening schoolchildren for urinary schistosomiasis as compared with the presence of eggs in urine as the gold-standard parasitological diagnosis.The study examined urine samples and interviewed 696 children [mean age 12.5 years]attending a primary-preparatory school in south Yemen.Urinary schistosomiasis was confirmed in 126 [18.1%]children.Diagnostic performance was poor for 2 items in the morbidity questionnaire [self-reported history of previous infection and self-reported history of antischistosomal treatment]. However, self-reported dysuria, self-reported haematuria in the questionnaire and microhaematuria by reagent strips [alone or with macrohaematuria]revealed good diagnostic performance.The results indicated that reagent strips are a valid method for detection of microhaematuria for identifying individuals and communities infected with Schistosoma haematobium

يحتل داء البلهارسيات الموقع الثاني بعد الملاريا من حيث الأهمية من وجهة نظر الصحة العمومية في اليمن. وتقيم هذه الدراسة صحة استبيان يتناول المراضة مع استخدام أشرطة وكواشف للبول، باعتبارهما أداتين سريعين لتحري أطفال المدارس بحثا عن داء البلهارسيات البولي، ومقارنة ذلك بوجود البيوض في البول باعتباره المعيار الذهبي للتشخيص بفحص الطفيليات. وقد شملت الدراسة فحص عينات بول مع مقابلة 696 طفلا [وسطي أعمارهم 12.5 عاما]ممن يداومون في مدرسة ابتدائية في جنوب اليمن. وقد تأكد تشخيص داء البلهارسيات البولي لدى 126 طفلا [18.1 %]. واتضح أن الأداء التشخيصي كان سيئا في بندين اثنين من بنود استبيان المراضة [وهما الإبلاغ الذاتي عن سوابق عدوى بولية سابقة، والإبلاغ الذاتي عن سوابق معالجة مضادة للبلهارسيا]. وبالمقابل فقد أثبت كل من الإبلاغ الذاتي عن عسر التبول، والإبلاغ الذاتي عن تبول الدم في الاستبيان، وكشف أو كاشف وجود الدم في البول بكميات زهيدة بالفحص المجهري بالأشرطة ذات الكواشف [لوحده أو مع وجود الدم في البول بالعين المجردة]أنها ذات أداء تشخيصي جيد. وتشير النتائج إلى أن الأشرطة ذات الكواشف تعتبر طريقة صحيحة لكشف وجود البول في الدم بكميات زهيدة، من أجل التعرف على الأفراد والمجتمعات المصابة بعدوى البلهارسيا الدموية

La schistosomiase vient en deuxième place après le paludisme en termes de poids socioéconomique et de problème de santé publique au Yémen.La présente étude a évalué la validité d'un questionnaire sur la morbidité ainsi que des bandelettes urinaires réactives comme outils rapides de dépistage de la schistosomiase urinaire chez des écoliers par rapport à la recherche d'oeufs dans les urines en tant que méthode diagnostique parasitologique de référence.Au cours de l'étude, les échantillons d'urine de 696 enfants fréquentant une école primaire ou préparatoire dans le sud du Yémen ont été examinés, puis les enfants ont été interrogés [âge moyen 12, 5 ans]. Une schistosomiase urinaire a été confirmée chez 126 enfants [18, 1 %]. La performance du diagnostic était médiocre pour deux items du questionnaire sur la morbidité [antécédents auto déclarés d'une infection antérieure et d'un traitement contre la schistosomiase]. Toutefois, une dysurie autodéclarée, une hématurie autodéclarée dans le questionnaire et une microhématurie par bandelettes urinaires réactives [seule ou associée à une macrohématurie]ont fait ressortir une bonne performance diagnostique.Les résultats ont indiqué que les bandelettes urinaires réactives étaient une méthode valable pour le dépistage de la microhématurie permettant d'identifier les personnes et les communautés infestées par Schistosoma haematobiurn

Blood pressure patterns among the Omani population.

The National Blood Pressure Survey aimed to determine blood pressure levels among Omanis > or = 18 years, study the epidemiological factors most related to blood pressure and suggest a programme for the management and control of hypertension in Oman. Of the 4732 people screened, 1278 (27.01%) had high blood pressure. Multiple regression analysis showed that blood pressure depended on age, body mass index and income per capita simultaneously. In a logistic regression model, adjusted risks associated with obesity and those aged > or = 45 years were significantly increased compared with the relevant different categories. A national plan of action for hypertension control and management is recommended and discussed.

Blood pressure patterns among the Omani population

The National Blood Pressure Survey aimed to determine blood pressure levels among Omanis > or = 18 years, study the epidemiological factors most related to blood pressure and suggest a programme for the management and control of hypertension in Oman. Of the 4732 people screened, 1278 [27.01%] had high blood pressure. Multiple regression analysis showed that blood pressure depended on age, body mass index and income per capita simultaneously. In a logistic regression model, adjusted risks associated with obesity and those aged >/= 45 years were significantly increased compared with the relevant different categories. A national plan of action for hypertension control and management is recommended and discussed

Efficiency of tuberculin as a tool to determine the prevalence of tuberculosis.

Among 1937 first grade primary school children followed, the results of tuberculin test, the prevalence rate of TB infection was 4.49% with an estimated annual infection rate of 0.75%. Household contacts of tuberculin positive pupils gave a prevalence rate of infection of 30.6%. As for the efficiency of tuberculin screening test, data of this work showed a positive predictive value of 13.3%. Out of 10 diagnosed tuberculous patients, 4 cases were diagnosed for the first time during this study.

An epidemiologic study of the fungal skin flora among the elderly in Alexandria.

The fungal skin flora of a sample of 205 elderly persons in Alexandria, drawn by cluster sampling probability technique, was investigated. Pathogenic yeasts were isolated from 18.6% and 10.3% of skin and nails respectively. Candida albicans (16.1% and 7.3%) was prominent. A low prevalence of dermatophytes grown on agar (2.4% from skin and 2.9% from nails) was observed. In contrast, saprophytic filamentous fungi comprised 45.4 and 50.7% of skin and nails samples respectively. This study showed no statistically significant effect of sociodemographic variables (sex, marital status, crowding index, and income per capita) on the skin flora. There was no statistical significant difference between elderly diabetics and non-diabetics as regards fungal skin flora.