Diagnostic techniques in schistosomiasis control. A review.

Diagnosis is central to all aspects of schistosomiasis. Decisions on individual and community treatment, estimations on prognosis and assessment of morbidity, evaluation of chemotherapy and control measures all require the results from diagnostic tests. Unfortunately, all presently available techniques are characterised by diagnostic imperfections. Selection and application of methods should therefore correspond to the type of information sought by the public health officer or the epidemiologist and interpretation of test results must take into consideration the drawbacks and constraints inherent to each of the various diagnostic approaches.