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The objectives of the study were to determine by the use of a structured questionnaire the prevalence of malaria and its associated symptoms amongst school children and to relate these to the prevalence of malaria determined by microscopic examination. The questionnaire was administered to 840 pupils of classes 3, 5 and 7 (age range 5-16 years) in 17 primary schools of the Kumba Health District of Cameroon. Blood samples were collected from the same individuals for identification of malaria parasites. The prevalence rate by microscopic examination was 41.4% significantly higher (P<0.001) than 23.9% obtained by questionnaire survey. Headache and fever had similar prevalence rates (53.6% and 53.0% respectively) which were significantly higher (P<0.001) than the prevalence rate of malaria by microscopic examination. Other malaria hyphen;related symptoms gave rates which greatly underestimated the prevalence of malaria (P<0.001). There was no significant correlation between the prevalence rates obtained by questionnaire and the rate of malaria by microscopy. The sensitivity and specificity of these screening tests for malaria were all low. The use of the microscope as a malaria diagnostic tool at primary health care unit is strongly recommended.

Biomedical studies accompanied by a questionnaire survey were carried out on 803 pupils of classes 3, 5 an 7 attending 17 primary schools in the Kumba Health District to determine the prevalence of soil - transmitted nematodes and infection-associated morbidity. The prevalence rate of worms in the sample population from the questionnaire survey was 42.3% which correlates closely with 44.2% recorded for abdominal pains. The biomedical studies gave a worm infection rate of 67.1%. Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and hookworm had prevalence rates of 54.9%, 33.8% and 20.3% respectively. Mixed infections were recorded in 34.4 % of the sample population compared to 32.8% for single infections. Hookworm infection rate was significantly higher in the rural areas than in the urban areas (27.5 % versus 14.8%, P < 0.001). A similar trend was observed for T. trichiura (38.4% versus 30.3 %, P < 0.02). Prevalence of A. lumbricoides was similar in the urban and rural areas (56.5% versus 52.6%). Males carried heavier burdens of Ascaris and Trichuris than females. The worm burden for all 3 species decreased as children moved to higher classes and with age after the first decade of life. There was a significant correlation between the intensities of infection of A. lumbricoides and T. trichiura.

Studies were carried out on 855 pupils of classes 3, 5 and 7 (age range 5-16 years) attending 17 primary schools in the Kumba Health District, Cameroon, to determine the infection pattern of Schistosoma haematobium in its different communities. The results reveal prevalence rates of 9.7 % for urinary schistosomiasis and 11.6 % for haemuturia. The focal area for Schistosomiasis was Barombi kotto with a prevalence rate of 75.9 %, a finding not significantly different from 78.2 % for haematuria. Low prevalence rates were recorded in the villages at the periphery of Barombi Kotto and also in the vicinity of Kumba town. Lake Barombi Kotto and "Kumba Water" were the main sources of infection in these areas. No significant differences in prevalence were observed between males and females or between children in the different classes surveyed. Age-specific evaluation revealed that peak infection was attained at