Submission Type
Poster
Start Date
4-26-2021
Abstract
Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease that continues to impact the health of children in Ghana. Schistosome parasites develop inside freshwater snails, and once they are released into the water the schistosomes can penetrate the skin of people wading or swimming in the water. Our research focuses specifically on different intensities of S. haematobium and S.mansoni infection in children in a disadvantaged informal community in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. After collection of urine and stool samples from kids in Ghana, we were able to use egg counts to determine which age groups were overrepresented in high and low intensity cases. We found that children between the ages of 10-12 were overrepresented in high intensity cases in some years and ages 13-15 were overrepresented in low intensity cases in some years. This correlates with expectations and activities related to these age groups. Our study is part of a larger study of coinfection and reinfection in children in the community.
Recommended Citation
Sheffield, Kathryn and patterson, Molly, "300— Varying Intensities of Schistosoma haematobium (S.h.) and Schistosoma mansoni (S.m.) with Age among school-aged Ghanian population" (2021). GREAT Day Posters. 67.
https://knightscholar.geneseo.edu/great-day-symposium/great-day-2021/posters-2021/67
Video of the researchers
300— Varying Intensities of Schistosoma haematobium (S.h.) and Schistosoma mansoni (S.m.) with Age among school-aged Ghanian population
Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease that continues to impact the health of children in Ghana. Schistosome parasites develop inside freshwater snails, and once they are released into the water the schistosomes can penetrate the skin of people wading or swimming in the water. Our research focuses specifically on different intensities of S. haematobium and S.mansoni infection in children in a disadvantaged informal community in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. After collection of urine and stool samples from kids in Ghana, we were able to use egg counts to determine which age groups were overrepresented in high and low intensity cases. We found that children between the ages of 10-12 were overrepresented in high intensity cases in some years and ages 13-15 were overrepresented in low intensity cases in some years. This correlates with expectations and activities related to these age groups. Our study is part of a larger study of coinfection and reinfection in children in the community.
Comments
Sponsored by Susan Muench