Therapeutic effects of praziquantel (Embay 8440) against Taenia solium infection

ABSTRACT

A total of 53 patients infected with Taenia solium were treated with praziquantel in two different dose levels. Twenty-six cases were treated with praziquantel in a single oral dose of 5 mg/kg body weight. All cases except one were completely cured. The cure rate was 96.2 per cent. The other 27 cases were treated with a single dose of 10 mg/kg body weight. All cases were completely cured and revealed a cure rate of 100 per cent. Side effects were mild and transient. About half of the cases complained of a mild abdominal pain. Soft stool or diarrhea and dizziness were observed in some cases. Tests on clinical hematology, serum biochemistry and urinalysis were performed immediately before and one day after treatment in all cases. There were no significant abnormalities detected in these tests.