Urinary schistosomiasis among preschool children in Malengachanzi, Nkhotakota District, Malawi: Prevalence and risk factors

Aim: This study was designed to determine the prevalence of and risk factors for schistosomiasis among a group of preschool children in Malawi. Schistosomiasis burden among preschoolers in Malawi is not well documented in the literature. Methods: This study used field research (in the form of a snail survey), laboratory work (urinalysis and microscopy for parasite identification), and questionnaireguided interviews to determine the prevalence of and risk factors for urinary schistosomiasis among children, aged between 6 and 60 months, in Malengachanzi, Nkhotakota District, Malawi. Results: Urinary schistosomiasis prevalence among preschool children was 13%. Of the factors evaluated, only age (P = 0.027) was statistically significantly associated with urinary schistosomiasis risk. Four-year-old preschool children were five times more likely to contract urinary schistosomiasis than two-year-old children (odds ratio [OR] = 5.255; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.014-27.237; P = 0.048). Increased contact with infested water among older children likely explains much of their increased risk. Infestation was evidenced by the presence of infected Bulinus globosus snails in the water contact points surveyed. Multiple regression analysis showed that visiting water contact sites daily (OR = 0.898, 95% CI = 0.185-4.350, P = 0.894), bathing in these sites (OR = 9.462, 95% CI = 0.036-0.00, P = 0.430) and lack of knowledge, among caregivers, regarding the causes of urinary schistosomiasis (OR = 0.235, 95% CI = 0.005-1.102, P = 0.066) posed statistically insignificant risk increases for preschoolers contracting urinary schistosomiasis. Conclusions: Urinary schistosomiasis was prevalent among preschool children in Malengachanzi, Nkhotakota District. Contact with infested water puts these children and the general population at risk of infection and reinfection. Inclusion of preschool children in treatment programmes should be considered imperative, along with safe treatment guidelines. To prevent infection, the population in the area should be provided with health education and safe alternative water sources.

Risperidone Versus Methylphenidate in Treatment of Preschool Children With Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Background: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common psychiatric diagnosis among preschool children. Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the Risperidone treatment compared to Methylphenidate (MPH) in preschool children with ADHD. Patients and Methods: Thirty three outpatient preschool children, aged 3-6 years, diagnosed with ADHD (The diagnosis of ADHD was established by two child and adolescent psychiatrists according to the DSM-IV-TR criteria), participated in a 6-week, double-blind clinical trial with risperidone (0.5-1.5 mg/d) and methylphenidate (5-20 mg/d), in two divided doses. Treatment outcomes were assessed using the Parent ADHD Rating Scale and Conners Rating Scale. Patients were assessed by a child psychiatrist at baseline, 2, 4 and 6 weeks after the medication started. Side effects were also rated by side effects questionnaire. Results: There were no significant differences between the two protocols on the Parent ADHD Rating Scale scores (P > 0.05) and Parent Conners Rating Scale scores (P > 0.05). Both groups showed a significant improvement in ADHD symptoms over the 6 weeks of treatment for parent ADHD Rating Scale (P < 0.001) and Parent Conners Rating Scale (P < 0.001). The most common adverse effects seen with risperidone were daytime drowsiness and anorexia (20%), and with methylphenidate it was anorexia (55%). Conclusions: Results of this study show that risperidone may be effective and well tolerated for ADHD in preschool children, but more researches are needed to clarify the potential benefits and adverse effects in long term use and comorbid conditions.