|
The Cochrane Collaboration
Cochrane Reviews |
| Explore | New + Updated | Other languages |
|
 |
Interventions for treating schistosomiasis mansoniSaconato H, Atallah ÁN
Bookmark this:
     more ...
SummaryInterventions for treating schistosomiasis mansoniSchistosoma mansoni is a parasite that infects the intestine, liver and spleen and can be fatal. People become infected when they come in contact with contaminated water. The review found that the drugs oxamniquine and praziquantel are both effective for curing the infection. Evidence from one trial shows that zinc supplements do not help to prevent re-infection. A small number of patients given oxamniquine have suffered seizures which could mean that this drug is less safe.
This is a Cochrane review abstract and plain language summary, prepared and maintained by The Cochrane Collaboration, currently published in The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2010 Issue 1, Copyright © 2010 The Cochrane Collaboration. Published by John Wiley and Sons, Ltd.. The full text of the review is available in The Cochrane Library (ISSN 1464-780X).
This version first published online:
January 26. 1998 AbstractBackgroundSchistosoma mansoni is a parasite carried by freshwater snails. S. mansoni infects the intestine, liver and spleen and can be fatal. ObjectivesTo assess the effects of oxamniquine and praziquantel for treating S. mansoni infection. Search strategyWe searched the Cochrane Infectious Diseases Group specialized trials register (September 2005), CENTRAL (The Cochrane Library Issue 3, 2005), MEDLINE (1966 to September 2005), EMBASE (1980 to September 2005), LILACS (September 2005), and reference lists of articles. The Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical and Brazilian Tropical Medicine Congress abstracts were hand searched Selection criteriaRandomised and quasi-randomised trials comparing oxamniquine and/or praziquantel with placebo for the treatment of S. mansoni. Data collection and analysisTwo reviewers independently assessed trial quality and extracted data. Main resultsThirteen trials met the inclusion criteria. Oxamniquine and praziquantel are effective in curing S. mansoni infection when compared to placebo. In Africa, 15 mg/kg oxamniquine is less effective than 40 mg/kg praziquantel in people older than 14 years (OR 0.23, 95% CI 0.09 to 0.60), but no difference was shown using 30 mg/kg oxamniquine (OR 2.88, 95% CI 0.69 to 11.96). In Brazil, 15 to 19 mg/kg oxamniquine is as effective as 50 to 70 mg/kg praziquantel in people older than 14 years (OR 0.61, 95% CI 0.26 to 1.46). Both drugs appear safe. No difference in reinfection rate between zinc supplementation and placebo has been shown. Authors' conclusionsOxamniquine and praziquantel both appear to be effective for treatment of S. mansoni, although lower doses of oxamniquine (less than 30 mg/kg) may not be as effective in some areas. |