Study of some aspects of cell mediated immune response in bilharzial children on a field level.

S. mansoni patients with active intestinal mansoniasis with or without hepatosplenomegaly were divided into 3 groups. The first was treated by praziquantel therapeutic course, second by an initial full dose of praziquantel to be followed by suppressive doses, and third received initial loading praziquantel dose and followed by the suppressive dose at monthly intervals. School children infected with S. haematobium were divided into 5 groups: The first received oral metrifonate therapeutic course followed by its prophylactic course monthly, second with full dose of oral praziquantel, third with metrifonate orally every month, fourth half dose of praziquantel orally every month, fifth received oral metrifonate curative course every 2 weeks for 3 doses every 6 months, repetition of such therapy was carried out 6 monthly for non-cured cases. Non-bilharzial children were studied and divided into six groups. The first was given an oral monthly praziquantel prophylactic dose. The second received the same prophylactic praziquantel doses given at 3-monthly intervals. The third was given an oral placebo in the form of vitamin B complex tablets at 3-monthly intervals. The fourth received oral monthly therapeutic dose of metrifonate. The fifth was given oral monthly prophylactic doses of praziquantel. The sixth was given oral placebo in the form of 2 vitamin B-complex tablets monthly. For every individual whole blood leucocyte % phagocytosis and tuberculin test were performed. In cases infected with S. mansoni the mean percent phagocytosis was only markedly reduced in hepatosplenic cases of groups P-1, P-2 and P-3 during praziquantel treatment. Tuberculin reactivity was not changed following such therapy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Side effects of praziquantel in bilharzial children on a field level.

For studying the side effects of praziquantel in children with active intestinal bilharziasis 6 groups of children were followed: group P-1 (active intestinal bilharziasis +/- hepatosplenomegaly). They were treated with praziquantel (40 mg/Kg b.w. orally every 6 months). group P-2 (children with active mansoniasis +/- hepatosplenomegaly. They were treated with an initial full dose of praziquantel (40 mg/kg) to be followed by suppressive dose (20 mg/kg) at 3-months intervals, group P-3 (school children with active mansoniasis +/- hepatosplenomegaly). Initial loading praziquantel dose was followed by suppressive dose at monthly intervals, group N-1 (non-bilharzial children given an oral monthly praziquantel prophylactic dose of 20 mg/kg, group N-2 (non-bilharzial children given an oral 3-monthly praziquantel prophylactic dose of 20 mg/kg), group N-3 (non-bilharzial school children given an oral placebo in the form of vitamin B complex tablets at 3-monthly intervals. Surveillance for praziquantel adverse reactions for all these groups was done. It revealed that the adverse reactions were nausea, vomiting, abdominal colic, diarrhea, dizziness, headache and pyrexia. These were noticed more after full therapeutic praziquantel dose than half doses (subcurative or prophylactic) & among bilharzial children than non-bilharzial cases. As regards school children with active urinary hematobiasis 3 groups were followed: Group 1 (school children with active urinary hematobiasis treated with praziquantel orally 40 mg/kg b.w. every 6 months). Group 2 (non-bilharzial school children given oral monthly prophylactic dose of 20 mg/kg b.w. praziquantel). Group 3 (non-bilharzial school children given oral placebo in the form of two vitamin B-complex tablets monthly).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)