Ultrasonographic evaluation of the morbidity of urinary schistosomiasis among school children in six locations around the Taabo dam (Ivory Coast)

Urinary schistosomiasis has been subject of numerous studies around the Taabo dam but the scanning aspect has never been studied. This study was therefore designed to determine the scan morbidity of urinary schistosomiasis among school children in six localities around the Taabo dam. A parasitological examination of urine and the scanner of bladder, ureters, kidneys, liver and spleen were performed in each school child selected. Urinary schistosomiasis was recorded at rates ranging from 1.67% to 68.97% indicating that it is no longer present at high levels in all localities around the dam. In this area, more than 65% of the infected had a mild infection and morbidity were mostly moderate with a scan severity index between 2 and 4. The majority of the 329 scanned school children presented abnormalities in the spleen (67.17%), bladder (40.43%) and liver (13.07%). Among the bladder lesions, mucosal irregularities were more frequent (27.36%), followed by thickening of the wall (14.89%) and weight (4.86%). They were found in all localities even in non-parasitized. Given the heterogeneity of the prevalence of parasitological and scan morbidity indicators, three strategies for reducing morbidity should be adapted to the epidemiological context of different homes.