Pre-post intervention analysis shows reduction in fecal occult blood in school-aged children after praziquantel treatment, indicating effective monitoring of intestinal morbidity.
Key Points
Schistosoma mansoni infection significantly associates with fecal occult blood positivity among children.
Over 75% of infected school-aged children tested positive for fecal occult blood before treatment.
Praziquantel treatment resulted in significant reductions in both schistosomiasis infection and fecal occult blood positivity.
Findings support the use of fecal occult blood testing for monitoring intestinal morbidity in endemic areas.