The health handicap of schistosomiasis to children in Southern Africa.

To find out more about the health handicap caused by schistosomiasis the most meaningful approach lies in comparing populations with and without the infection. Several studies on appropriately matched groups of South African Black children have failed to reveal clear-cut disadvantages in the infected. Limited studies on White children have shown impairment in the infected. Among Black adults, the very few studies made have shown reduction of working capacity to be slight. Obviously, further comparative studies are required, more particularly on adults. Knowledge of the precise public health burden of schistosomiasis remains unsatisfactory, and a large amount of further research is required to secure the requisite information on morbidity and mortality.