Abstract:
The utility of microhaematuria (as measured by urine reagent strips) as a surrogate marker for Schistosoma haematobium
infection is not established in patients with urogenital symptoms presenting to clinical settings, although previous studies
have demonstrated its utility in screening asymptomatic individuals in large community or school-based settings. In this
cross-sectional study of 201 patients, multivariate analysis demonstrated microhaematuria as an independent predictor of
S. haematobium infection (OR, 4.29; 95% CI, 1.6–11.9) in individuals presenting with urogenital symptoms to an outpatient
medical department (OPD) at a rural Ghanaian medical center. Microhaematuria is predictive of S. haematobium
infections in clinical settings in endemic regions.
