Risk factors, symptoms and effects of urinary schistosomiasis on anthropometric indices of school children in Zaria, Kaduna state, Nigeria.

Nigerian children suffer a great burden of parasitic infections. Urinary schistosomiasis is associated with children’s daily indulgence in uncontrolled water activities in unsafe water bodies. The study was aimed at assessing the level of urinary schistosomiasis among school children in Zaria-Nigeria, as well as the risk factors, signs/symptoms and effects associated with it. A total of 200 children from different primary schools in Zaria consented to this study through their parents and school managements. Urine sample (10mls) and anthropometric indices (weight in kilogram, height in meters, mid-arm circumference in centimeters) were obtained from each pupil, followed by administration of a structured questionnaire. The samples were analysed at the Department of Veterinary Parasitology and Entomology, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria. The overall prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis among the pupils was 21(10.5%). The male pupils 16(14.8%) were significantly more infected than the female pupils 5(5.4%). Also children within the age of 13-14years and 9-10years had the most infections. Swimming and irrigation farming were found to be significant risk factors (P≤0.05). The infection was significantly associated with abdominal pain, painful urination, and frequent urination and visible haematuria. Pupils with mid-arm circumference of 21.0-22.9cm had the highest infections but there was not significant association with the disease. Pupils with normal BMI had more infections than the underweight pupils but the relationship was statistically insignificant. This study did not find harmful associations between urinary schistosomiasis and anthropometric indices considered. There is an urgent need of efforts to control schistosomiasis in Nigeria.