ABSTRACT
Praziquantel was given every eight weeks for two years to children aged under six years of age, living in a Schistosoma haematobium endemic area. Infection with S. haematobium and haematuria were examined in urine and antibody profiles (IgA, IgE, IgM, IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, and IgG4) against S. haematobium adult worm and egg antigens were determined from sera collected before each treatment. Chemotherapy reduced infection prevalence and mean intensity from 51.8 percent and 110 eggs per 10 ml urine, respectively, before starting re-treatment programme to very low levels thereafter. Praziquantel is not accumulated after periodic administration in children. Immunoglobulin levels change during the course of treatment with a shift towards 'protective' mechanisms. The significant changes noted in some individuals were the drop in 'blocking' IgG2 and IgG4 whereas the 'protecting' IgA and IgG1 levels increased. The antibody profiles in the rest of the children remained generally unchanged throughout the study and no haematuria was observed after the second treatment. The removal of worms before production of large number of eggs, prevented the children from developing morbidity
Subject(s)
Humans , Animals , Child , Anthelmintics/therapeutic use , Praziquantel/therapeutic use , Schistosomiasis haematobia/drug therapy , Antibodies, Helminth/isolation & purification , Antigens, Helminth/isolation & purification , Endemic Diseases , Follow-Up Studies , Hematuria/immunology , Recurrence , Retreatment , Schistosoma haematobium/immunology , Schistosomiasis haematobia/epidemiology , Schistosomiasis haematobia/immunology , Time Factors , Zimbabwe/epidemiologyABSTRACT
The paper explains the pharmacological effects of the drug which include vacuolation and degeneration of the worm. The degeneration of parasite surface as well as migration into the worm is a critical event in the action of PZQ
Subject(s)
Lymphocytes , Praziquantel , Schistosomiasis/drug therapyABSTRACT
The failure of patience to follow drug regimens may be due to lack of information or the negative attitudes of patients and health care providers. We have found that most patients in rural areas did not ask for information about their treatment because they felt their health carers had little time for such matters. These problems will continue unless practitioners at all levels make better efforts to understand their patients' perceptions of illness and treatment; and especially whether compliance with drug treatment is feasible
Subject(s)
Drug Information Services , Patient ComplianceABSTRACT
The objectives of the study were to gain knowledge about people's patterns of behavior in relation to drugs and modern health care facilities with particular reference to the way in which the perception and use of drugs may be influenced by the following cultural and socio-economic determinants. The quantitative data from the survey have been combined with qualitative data from the group interviews to provide a comprehensive picture of people's perceptions and behavior with regard to illness and treatment
Subject(s)
Knowledge , Pharmaceutical Preparations , Social Conditions , Socioeconomic FactorsABSTRACT
The objectives of the study were to gain knowledge about people's patterns of behavior in relation to drugs and modern health care facilities with particular reference to the way in which the perception and use of drugs may be influenced by cultural and socio-economic determinants. The quantitative data from the survey has been combined with qualitative data from the group interviews to provide a comprehensive picture of people's perceptions and behavior with regard to illness and treatment