TY - JOUR
T1 - Efficacy and side effects of praziquantel in the treatment of Schistosomiasis mansoni in schoolchildren in Shesha Kekele Elementary School, Wondo Genet, Southern Ethiopia
AU - Erko, Berhanu
AU - Degarege, Abraham
AU - Tadesse, Konjit
AU - Mathiwos, Asnake
AU - Legesse, Mengistu
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was financially supported by Vice President Office for Research and Dean of School of Graduate Studies (VPGSR) and Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University. We would like to thank Ms. Baysashu Gebre-Medhin, Ms. Yirgalem Gebre-Hiwot and Mr. Sisay Dessie of the Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, for their technical assistance. We also gratefully acknowledge all school communities at Shesha Kekele Elementary School in Wondo Genet, southern Ethiopia, for their collaboration during stool specimens and data collection.
Funding Information:
*Corresponding author: Berhanu Erko, Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, P. O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Tel: +251 11 2763091 Fax: +251 11 2755296 Email: [email protected] Foundation Project: This work was financially supported by the Vice President Office for Research and Dean of School of Graduate Studies and Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology (grant No. RDP/PY-014/09).
PY - 2012/3
Y1 - 2012/3
N2 - Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and side effects of praziquantel (PZQ) in the treatment of schistosomiasis in Ethiopia. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, stool specimens were collected from randomly selected 299 school children in Shesha Kekele Elementary School, Wondo Genet, Southern Ethiopia, in April 2010. Stool specimens were examined using a single Kato-Katz thick smear for Schistosoma mansoni (S. mansoni) ova. Children who were found positive for S. mansoni were treated with a single oral dose of PZQ at 40 mg/kg bw and interviewed for treatment-related symptoms 24 hours after drug administration. Four weeks post-treatment, stool specimens were collected from the same children and examined following the same procedure as in the pre-treatment. Drug efficacy was determined based on cure and egg reduction rates. Results: Pre-treatment prevalence of S. mansoni infection was 74.9% with geometric mean egg count of 268. The evaluated generic PZQ produced an overall cure rate of 73.6% (P<0.000 1, OR: 8.33, CI: 5.3-13.1) and egg reduction rate of 68.2% (P=0.03, F=0.64). The cure rate showed significant association with age (χ2=11, P=0.004), the highest rate being observed in the 15-22 age group. 83% of S. mansoni infected children showed various treatment-related symptoms, the most frequent being headache, nausea, and abdominal pain. These symptoms were associated with age (P<0.001) and pre-treatment intensity of infection (P<0.05). Conclusions: The present observations revealed relatively lower cure and egg reduction rates of the PZQ evaluated as compared to previous reports for other PZQ brands in Ethiopia. Hence, in depth studies are recommended to clarify whether the present relatively lower cure rate is the actual cure rate of the praziquantel evaluated, treatment failure, or reduced susceptibility of the parasite. Treatment-related side effects observed were transient and tolerable.
AB - Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and side effects of praziquantel (PZQ) in the treatment of schistosomiasis in Ethiopia. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, stool specimens were collected from randomly selected 299 school children in Shesha Kekele Elementary School, Wondo Genet, Southern Ethiopia, in April 2010. Stool specimens were examined using a single Kato-Katz thick smear for Schistosoma mansoni (S. mansoni) ova. Children who were found positive for S. mansoni were treated with a single oral dose of PZQ at 40 mg/kg bw and interviewed for treatment-related symptoms 24 hours after drug administration. Four weeks post-treatment, stool specimens were collected from the same children and examined following the same procedure as in the pre-treatment. Drug efficacy was determined based on cure and egg reduction rates. Results: Pre-treatment prevalence of S. mansoni infection was 74.9% with geometric mean egg count of 268. The evaluated generic PZQ produced an overall cure rate of 73.6% (P<0.000 1, OR: 8.33, CI: 5.3-13.1) and egg reduction rate of 68.2% (P=0.03, F=0.64). The cure rate showed significant association with age (χ2=11, P=0.004), the highest rate being observed in the 15-22 age group. 83% of S. mansoni infected children showed various treatment-related symptoms, the most frequent being headache, nausea, and abdominal pain. These symptoms were associated with age (P<0.001) and pre-treatment intensity of infection (P<0.05). Conclusions: The present observations revealed relatively lower cure and egg reduction rates of the PZQ evaluated as compared to previous reports for other PZQ brands in Ethiopia. Hence, in depth studies are recommended to clarify whether the present relatively lower cure rate is the actual cure rate of the praziquantel evaluated, treatment failure, or reduced susceptibility of the parasite. Treatment-related side effects observed were transient and tolerable.
KW - Drug efficacy
KW - Efficacy
KW - Egg reduction
KW - Ethiopia
KW - Infection
KW - Parasite
KW - Praziquantel
KW - Prevalence
KW - Schistosoma mansoni
KW - Schistosomiasis
KW - Schoolchildren
KW - Side effect
KW - Susceptibility
KW - Thick smear
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U2 - 10.1016/S2221-1691(12)60049-5
DO - 10.1016/S2221-1691(12)60049-5
M3 - Article
C2 - 23569905
AN - SCOPUS:84858113558
SN - 2221-1691
VL - 2
SP - 235
EP - 239
JO - Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine
JF - Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine
IS - 3
ER -