Meta-analysis of urine heme dipstick diagnosis of Schistosoma haematobium infection, including low-prevalence and previously-treated populations.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Urogenital schistosomiasis remains highly endemic in Africa. Current control is based on drug administration, targeted either to school-age children or to high-risk communities at-large. Urine dipsticks for detection of microhematuria offer an inexpensive means for estimating infection prevalence. However, their diagnostic performance has not been systematically evaluated after community treatment, or in areas with continuing low prevalence. The objective of the present study was to perform meta-analysis of dipstick accuracy for S. haematobium infection in endemic regions, with special attention to performance where infection intensity or prevalence was low.

Methodology/principal findings

This review was registered at inception with PROSPERO (CRD42012002165). Incl

SUBMITTER: King CH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3772022 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature