Use of a Tablet-Based System to Perform Abdominal Ultrasounds in a Field Investigation of Schistosomiasis-Related Morbidity in Western Kenya

Chronic intestinal schistosomiasis can cause severe hepatosplenic disease and is a neglected tropical disease of public health importance in sub-Saharan Africa, including Kenya. Although the goal of control programs is to reduce morbidity, milestones for program performance focus on reductions in pr...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene 2021-03, Vol.104 (3), p.898-901
Main Authors: Straily, Anne, Malit, Alfred O, Wanja, Dollycate, Kavere, Emmy A, Kiplimo, Rono, Aera, Rose, Momanyi, Caroline, Mwangi, Solomon, Mukire, Sarah, Souza, Ashley A, Wiegand, Ryan E, Montgomery, Susan P, Secor, William E, Odiere, Maurice R
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Computers, Handheld
Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted - methods
Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted - statistics & numerical data
Humans
Kenya - epidemiology
Morbidity
Prevalence
Public Health - methods
Public Health - statistics & numerical data
Radiography, Abdominal - methods
Radiography, Abdominal - statistics & numerical data
Schistosomiasis mansoni - diagnosis
Schistosomiasis mansoni - epidemiology
Schistosomiasis mansoni - mortality
Schistosomiasis mansoni - physiopathology
Tropical diseases
Ultrasonic imaging
Ultrasonography - methods
Ultrasonography - statistics & numerical data
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Summary:Chronic intestinal schistosomiasis can cause severe hepatosplenic disease and is a neglected tropical disease of public health importance in sub-Saharan Africa, including Kenya. Although the goal of control programs is to reduce morbidity, milestones for program performance focus on reductions in prevalence and intensity of infection, rather than actual measures of morbidity. Using ultrasound to measure hepatosplenic disease severity is an accepted method of determining schistosomiasis-related morbidity; however, ultrasound has not historically been considered a field-deployable tool because of equipment limitations and unavailability of expertise. A point-of-care tablet-based ultrasound system was used to perform abdominal ultrasounds in a field investigation of schistosomiasis-related morbidity in western Kenya; during the study, other pathologies and pregnancies were also identified via ultrasound, and participants referred to care. Recent technological advances may make it more feasible to implement ultrasound as part of a control program and can also offer important benefits to the community.
ISSN:0002-9637
1476-1645
DOI:10.4269/ajtmh.20-1175