Effect of artemether-lumefantrine treatment of <i>falciparum</i> malaria on urogenital schistosomiasis in co-infected School Aged Children in North Central of Nigeria

Abstract

The focus of the present study is to assess the effect of artemether-lumefantrine treatment of falciparum malaria on urogenital schistosomiasis in co-infected individuals. Urine samples were collected from 159 microscopically confirmed malaria patients and diagnosed for urogenital schistosomiasis before treatment. The schistosomiasis cure rate and egg reduction were determined in co-infected patients, who were treated with artemether-lumefantrine. Out of 103 malaria infected children, 56 were co-infected 54.4% (56/103) with schistosomiasis. All 56 co-infected  patients were found urine-negative for Schistosoma haematobium eggs four weeks after treatment. The extent of co-infection was associated with age and sex level. Cure rate and egg reduction rate following the treatment of artemether-lumefantrine were 100% (p=0.0000).  Artemetherlumefantrine was effective against S. haematobium in  co-infected children. Further studies however, are needed for a better understanding of the efficacy of artemether lumefantrine against  schistosome infection with ranges of intensity.

Keywords: Urogenital haematobium, malaria, Cure rate, Egg reduction rate.