review of the control of schistosomiasis in South Africa

Abstract

Schistosomiasis is the second most important tropical disease in the world in terms of public health impact. In South Africa, more than 4 million people are estimated to be infected with schistosomiasis. School-age children usually have the highest prevalence and intensity of infection. Schistosoma haematobium may result in female genital schistosomiasis which presents as inflammation and ulceration of the genital mucosa and pathological blood vessels. These effects may increase the susceptibility of women with female genital schistosomiasis to HIV. Praziquantel is the drug used to treat schistosomiasis and it is best to treat people during the early stages of infection, before female genital schistosomiasis presents as lesions and sandy patches, as there currently is no treatment for these symptoms. Schistosomiasis is not regarded as a serious public health issue in South Africa despite evidence revealing the seriousness of the disease. In areas endemic for schistosomiasis, the World Health Organization recommends regular mass treatment of all school-age children. In 2001, South Africa became a signatory to the World Health Assembly resolution 54.19 which urged all member states to achieve the minimum goal of 75% treatment coverage in school-age children at risk by 2010. This goal was not achieved in South Africa, despite efforts made by the Department of Health, such as the first statutory school-based geohelminth control programme in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. However, this programme has not been continued. Therefore, there is still much work to be done in order to control and decrease the prevalence of schistosomiasis in endemic areas.

A review of the traditional use of southern African medicinal plants for the treatment of selected parasite infections affecting humans

“…Trichomonas vaginalis causes urethritis with a purulent discharge and is also linked to other morbidities of the reproductive tract in both males and females. In endemic areas, community studies indicate that between 33% and 75% of females are infected with Schistosoma haematobium in their genital tracts (Magaisa et al, 2015).…”

Unmet Needs to Treat Schistosomiasis in Children Under Five Years Old in uMkhanyakude District of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

“…WHO has contributed to the donation of PZQ to MDA programs in endemic countries (Hotez, Engels et al, 2010;Stothard, Bustinduy et al, 2014;Cohen, Silva et al, 2016). In South Africa, donated generic praziquantel is not permitted and that makes the use of donated PZQ not an option for funding schistosomiasis control MDA (Magaisa, Taylor et al, 2015) for children aged five years old and below. The health staff interviewed recommended epidemiological data demonstrating the extent of the problem to be used to motivate for the availability of funds to implement a schistosomiasis control MDA program for children aged five years old and below in the district.…”

“…One of the district health staff members told us that that since some parents do not like the deworming program, health education could assist in improving the acceptability of the program among parents. Other MDA programs such as the school based treatment program in the south coast of KwaZulu-Natal have experienced low coverage because parents did not allow their children to get treated (Magaisa, Taylor et al, 2015). Exaggeration of the side-effects of treatment can cause distrust of MDA programs by some communities (Krentel, Fischer et al, 2013).…”

Gastropods alien to South Africa cause severe environmental harm in their global alien ranges across habitats

“…Given that attempted control programs have been largely unsuccessful (Magaisa, Taylor, Kjetland, & Naidoo, 2015), this figure is likely an underestimate for the current situation. It is likely that the alien gastropods that were reported as vectors of the disease in this study (Aplexa marmorata and Radix rubiginosa), and which both occur in South African schistosomiasis risk areas (Appleton & Miranda, 2015;Magaisa et al, 2015), play a role in transmission to humans in South Africa, despite no disease transmission socioeconomic impacts being recorded there. Angiostrongylus cantonensis has been found in South Africa in rats in KwaZulu-Natal (Archer, Appleton, Mukaratirwa, & Hope, 2011).…”