Abstract
The long-term effect of single-dose praziquantel on morbidity and mortality from Schistosoma mansoni was investigated in surveys in 1987 and 1994 in central Sudan. Prevalence of infection dropped from 53% to 34%, and intensity of infection (> or = 400 eggs/g of faeces) from 31% to 18%. There was a reduction in hepatomegaly and hepatosplenomegaly, although splenomegaly alone was unchanged. Prevalence of periportal fibrosis decreased from 14% to 10%. Endoscopic investigation of patients with fibrosis showed a reduction in oesophageal varices from 47% to 30%. Mortality due to bleeding varices was high (community-wide, up to 11/100 infected patients with bleeding). Thus praziquantel mass treatment can be spaced to a much longer period, reducing the expense of treatment, delivery and distribution.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Adolescent
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Adult
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Age Distribution
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Anthelmintics / pharmacology
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Anthelmintics / therapeutic use*
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Cause of Death
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Child
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Child, Preschool
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Endemic Diseases / prevention & control*
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Endemic Diseases / statistics & numerical data*
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Esophageal and Gastric Varices / parasitology
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Hepatomegaly / parasitology
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Humans
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Incidence
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Infant
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Liver Cirrhosis / parasitology
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Middle Aged
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Morbidity
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Parasite Egg Count
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Population Surveillance
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Praziquantel / pharmacology
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Praziquantel / therapeutic use*
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Prevalence
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Schistosomiasis mansoni / complications
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Schistosomiasis mansoni / diagnosis
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Schistosomiasis mansoni / drug therapy*
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Schistosomiasis mansoni / epidemiology*
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Severity of Illness Index
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Splenomegaly / parasitology
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Sudan / epidemiology
Substances
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Anthelmintics
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Praziquantel