Urinary schistosomiasis among school children in Ile-Ife, Nigeria

A study of urinary schistosomiasis among 553 randomly selected primary and secondary school children in Ile-Ife township in 1988 shows that nearly half (48.5%) of the school children were infected. There was a sharp increase in both the prevalence and intensity of the infection up to age 13 years which then declined slightly by age 14. About 50% of the infected school children had gross hematuria. There was an association between the intensity of the infection and the presence of hematuria. The main strategies recommended for the control of the infection were regular disinfection of ponds and streams in the town and adequate treatment of infected school children, backed up with school health education programme.