Is Schistosomiasis present in Grand Kru County, Liberia, 2018?

Abstract

Introduction: Schistosomiasis is one of the neglected tropical diseases targeted for elimination. Estimates have it that there are 200,000 deaths annually in sub-Sharan Africa. Prevalence of Schistosomiasis is estimated at 25% in Liberia. Grand Kru County has not been benefiting from the national mass drug administration campaigns for schistosomiasis eradication because it is generally believed that schistosomiasis is not prevalent in Grand Kru County. We investigated to estimate the proportionate morbidity of schistosomiasis among health facilities attendees, Grand Kru County. Methods: We conducted retrospective chart review of 20,000 health facilities attendees´ medical records from selected health facilities in Grand Kru County from January 2013 to December-2017. Data was collected on sex, symptoms, laboratory diagnosis, and treatment. Results: The morbidity rate of schistosomiasis was 0.03% percent among hospital attendees over the 5-year period. Of the seven suspected cases, 5 (71%) were confirmed positive All the confirmed cases were male, with median age 12 (10 - 15) yrs. Specie in circulation was the Schistosoma mansoni. Common symptoms were abdominal pain and hematuria. All cases recovered after treatment with praziquantel. Conclusion: We determined that Schistosomiasis exists in Grand Kru County, though the morbidity rate is low. Therefore, there is a need to conduct a survey to estimate the prevalence of schistosomiasis in Grand Kru County.