Prevalence and intensity of schistosomiasis haematobium among school children in respect of family social conditions in a village in Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt.

A probability sample (n = 2000) of primary and preparatory school children (6-15 years old) in a rural area, in the eastern part of Nile Delta, Egypt, were examined for S. haematobium eggs using the sedimentation technique. A sub-sample, consisting of all children whose urine samples were positive, was subjected to short interview and urine examination for egg counting using the modern monofilament polyamide (Nytrel) filters. The overall prevalence of S. haematobium was 5.5% with significant (P < 0.05) difference between males (7.9%) and females (3.1%). The sample mean egg count was 163 eggs/10 ml urine, while those of males and females were 625 and 52, respectively (P < 0.001). The age category 9-12 years old had the highest prevalence rate and mean egg count. Also, these patients had highest frequency distributions in the severe grade of infection intensity. Significant relationships were detected between fathers' occupation and mothers' education on one hand and mean egg counts and intensity grade of infection on the other hand.