Morbidity of schistosomiasis mansoni in St. Lucia and the response of hepatosplenic disease to treatment

ABSTRACT

A study was undertaken to objectively evaluate the morbidity of schistosomiasis mansoni in St. Lucia. School children (138) selected on the basis of long-standing infection at 3 intensities of infection (based on quantiative egg excretion) were evaluated blind to determine symptoms, signs and laboratory manifestations of disease. Symptoms in infected patients did not differ from the uninfected control group. Liver enlargement and serum protein abnormalities were found to be directly related to the intensity of infection. Splenomegaly was found in the more heavily infected patients. A review of the effect of treatment in cases of hepatosplenic disease shows that 62 percent of enlarged livers and 50 percent of enlarged spleens returened to normal. Younger patients were found to be more likely to respond to treatment (AU)