Olerimi Samson E, Ekhoye Ehitare I, Enaiho Oriasotie S, Olerimi Alexander
Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Nigeria.
School of Biomedical Sciences, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, United Kingdom.
Afr J Lab Med. 2023 May 31;12(1):2034. doi: 10.4102/ajlm.v12i1.2034. eCollection 2023.
The parasite causes urogenital schistosomiasis, a chronic infectious disease that occurs mainly among school-age children.
The prevalence of infection and level of intensity relative to age, gender and status of selected serum micronutrients among school-age children were investigated in suburban communities in Bekwarra, Nigeria.
This cross-sectional school-based study randomly recruited 353 children aged between 4 and 16 years from five elementary schools between June 2019 and December 2019. We gathered socio-demographic data about each child using a semi-structured questionnaire. Blood samples were collected for micronutrient analysis and urine samples were collected for assessment of infection.
A total of 57 (16.15%) school-age children were infected with . Girls ( = 34; 9.63%) were more frequently infected than boys ( = 23; 6.52%). Infection was most frequent among children aged 8-11 years ( = 32; 23.19%) and was significantly associated with age ( = 0.022) and gender ( < 0.001). Serum levels of iron, calcium, copper and zinc among infected children were significantly lower than those of non-infected children. Intensity of infection was negatively associated with iron ( = -0.21), calcium ( = -0.24), copper ( = -0.61; < 0.001) and zinc ( = -0.41; < 0.002).
This study showed that infection adversely impacted the micronutrient status of school-age children in suburban Nigeria. Measures to lower the prevalence of schistosomiasis among school-age children, including efficient drug distribution, education campaigns and community engagement, are necessary.
This research emphasises the significance of implementing infection prevention and control interventions to mitigate the transmission and prevalence of schistosomiasis among school age children.
该寄生虫可导致泌尿生殖系统血吸虫病，这是一种主要发生在学龄儿童中的慢性传染病。
在尼日利亚贝夸拉的郊区社区，调查学龄儿童中该寄生虫感染的患病率以及与年龄、性别和所选血清微量营养素状况相关的感染强度水平。
这项基于学校的横断面研究于2019年6月至2019年12月期间，从五所小学随机招募了353名年龄在4至16岁之间的儿童。我们使用半结构化问卷收集了每个孩子的社会人口统计学数据。采集血样进行微量营养素分析，并采集尿样评估该寄生虫感染情况。
共有57名（16.15%）学龄儿童感染了该寄生虫。女孩（n = 34；9.63%）比男孩（n = 23；6.52%）感染更为频繁。感染在8至11岁的儿童中最为常见（n = 32；23.19%），并且与年龄（P = 0.022）和性别（P < 0.001）显著相关。感染儿童的血清铁、钙、铜和锌水平显著低于未感染儿童。感染强度与铁（P = -0.21）、钙（P = -0.24）、铜（P = -0.61；P < 0.001）和锌（P = -0.41；P < 0.002）呈负相关。
本研究表明，该寄生虫感染对尼日利亚郊区学龄儿童的微量营养素状况产生了不利影响。采取措施降低学龄儿童血吸虫病的患病率是必要的，包括有效分发药物、开展教育活动和社区参与。
本研究强调了实施感染预防和控制干预措施以减轻学龄儿童中血吸虫病传播和患病率的重要性。
