Ann Short Rep | Volume 2, Issue 2 | Review Article | Open Access
Humphrey D Mazigo1*, Owuocha Suleiman1, Paulina Manyiri2, Deodatus Ruganuza1, Daniel W Gunda2 and David C Majinge2
1Department of Medical Parasitology, Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences, Tanzania
2Department of Internal Medicine, Bugando Medical Centre, Tanzania
*Correspondance to: Humphrey D Mazigo
Fulltext PDFBackground: The role of Schistosoma mansoni infection as one of the aetiological factors of oesophageal varices has received insignificant attention in clinical practices. In that context, the present study was conducted to determine the prevalence of Schistosoma mansoni in patients diagnosed with oesophageal varices at a tertiary referral hospital, north-western Tanzania.
Methods: Patients presenting with history of hematemesis and endoscopically diagnosed with oesophageal varices were recruited into the study after giving consent. A structured questionnaire was used to collect demographic, symptoms and clinical signs of the patients. A single urine sample was collected from each patient and examined for S. mansoni infection using Point-of-care Circulating Cathodic antigen test which detect active infection.
Results: A total of 319 patients with a mean age of 42.5 ± 12.07 years were enrolled into the study. The overall prevalence of active S. mansoni infection was 34.5% (111/319, 95% CI: 29.7-40.2). The prevalence of S. mansoni did not differ statistically by sex (χ2=0.5458, P=0.46) individuals (37.7%, 95% CI: 28.5-47.8 versus 33.4%, 95% CI: 27.5-40.0) and age groups (χ2=2.9986, P=0.39).
Conclusion: The finding confirms that S. mansoni is common among patients diagnosed with oesophageal varices at the present study area. Diagnosis of S.mansoni infection in patients presenting with oesophageal varices is warranted and praziquantel treatment is recommended as part of the management of oesophageal varices.
Oesophageal varices; Schistosoma mansoni; Praziquantel; Tanzania
Mazigo HD, Suleiman O, Manyiri P, Ruganuza D, Gunda DW, Majinge DC. Praziquantel Treatment is Recommended: Active Schistosoma mansoni Infection among Patients Diagnosed with Oesophageal Varices at a Tertiary Referral Hospital, North-Western Tanzania. Ann Short Reports. 2019;2:1035.