Abstract
PREVALENCE OF SCHISTOSOMIASIS IN SCHOOL CHILDREN AT KEJARRA BASIC SCHOOLS, KORDOFAN, SUDAN

A cross-sectional study was carried out in Kordofan state, Western Sudan to measure the prevalence of schistosomiasis in basic school children. About 296 of 817 pupils in four basic schools were investigated. Samples of urine and stools were examined in laboratory to detect quantitatively the eggs of S. haematobium and S. mansoni. The overall prevalence of schitosomiasis was found to be 40.5%. The prevalence in males was higher (46.7%) than in females (30.7%). Most of families of infected pupils depend on open ponds as a source of drinking water. The study concluded that the prevalence in school children was high in the study area and the main risk factor might be the lack of safe drinking water.