Chronic hepatosplenomegaly in African achool children: a common but neglected morbidity associated with schistosomiasis and malaria
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Chronic hepatosplenomegaly in African achool children : a common but neglected morbidity associated with schistosomiasis and malaria. / Wilson, Shona; Vennervald, Birgitte J; Dunne, David W.
In: P L o S Neglected Tropical Diseases, Vol. 5, No. 8, 2011.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Chronic hepatosplenomegaly in African achool children
T2 - a common but neglected morbidity associated with schistosomiasis and malaria
AU - Wilson, Shona
AU - Vennervald, Birgitte J
AU - Dunne, David W.
PY - 2011
Y1 - 2011
N2 - Chronic hepatosplenomegaly, which is known to have a complex aetiology, is common amongst children who reside in rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa. Two of the more common infectious agents of hepatosplenomegaly amongst these children are malarial infections and schistosomiasis. The historical view of hepatosplenomegaly associated with schistosomiasis is that it is caused by gross periportal fibrosis and resulting portal hypertension. The introduction of ultrasound examinations into epidemiology studies, used in tandem with clinical examination, showed a dissociation within endemic communities between presentation with hepatosplenomegaly and ultrasound periportal fibrosis, while immuno-epidemiological studies indicate that rather than the pro-fibrotic Th2 response that is associated with periportal fibrosis, childhood hepatosplenomegaly without ultrasound-detectable fibrosis is associated with a pro-inflammatory response. Correlative analysis has shown that the pro-inflammatory response is also associated with chronic exposure to malarial infections and there is evidence of exacerbation of hepatosplenomegaly when co-exposure to malaria and schistosomiasis occurs. The common presentation with childhood hepatosplenomegaly in rural communities means that it is an important example of a multi-factorial disease and its association with severe and subtle morbidities underlies the need for well-designed public health strategies for tackling common infectious diseases in tandem rather than in isolation.
AB - Chronic hepatosplenomegaly, which is known to have a complex aetiology, is common amongst children who reside in rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa. Two of the more common infectious agents of hepatosplenomegaly amongst these children are malarial infections and schistosomiasis. The historical view of hepatosplenomegaly associated with schistosomiasis is that it is caused by gross periportal fibrosis and resulting portal hypertension. The introduction of ultrasound examinations into epidemiology studies, used in tandem with clinical examination, showed a dissociation within endemic communities between presentation with hepatosplenomegaly and ultrasound periportal fibrosis, while immuno-epidemiological studies indicate that rather than the pro-fibrotic Th2 response that is associated with periportal fibrosis, childhood hepatosplenomegaly without ultrasound-detectable fibrosis is associated with a pro-inflammatory response. Correlative analysis has shown that the pro-inflammatory response is also associated with chronic exposure to malarial infections and there is evidence of exacerbation of hepatosplenomegaly when co-exposure to malaria and schistosomiasis occurs. The common presentation with childhood hepatosplenomegaly in rural communities means that it is an important example of a multi-factorial disease and its association with severe and subtle morbidities underlies the need for well-designed public health strategies for tackling common infectious diseases in tandem rather than in isolation.
KW - Adolescent
KW - Africa South of the Sahara
KW - Child
KW - Chronic Disease
KW - Fibrosis
KW - Hepatomegaly
KW - Humans
KW - Hypertension, Portal
KW - Inflammation
KW - Malaria
KW - Neglected Diseases
KW - Portal Vein
KW - Schistosomiasis
KW - Schools
KW - Splenomegaly
KW - Students
U2 - 10.1371/journal.pntd.0001149
DO - 10.1371/journal.pntd.0001149
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 21912707
VL - 5
JO - P L o S Neglected Tropical Diseases (Online)
JF - P L o S Neglected Tropical Diseases (Online)
SN - 1935-2735
IS - 8
ER -
ID: 36090850