title: [The effect of artesunate in preventing the populations from Schistosoma japonicum infection during flood-control].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the prophylactic effect of artesunate in high-risk populations who had contacted the infested water.
  
  
  METHODS
  From the 7th day post-exposure to infested water, a total of 17,031 people who had contacted the infested water for more than 20 days had been treated with artesunate at a dose of 300 mg once a week for three successive weeks. On day 17 after the last medication, they were examined for schistosomiasis and followed-up 60 days later.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No acute schistosomiasis case was found. ELISA-positive was found in 204(1.20%) and COPT > 3% was found in 195 cases (1.14%). The side-effects were slight.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Artesunate is highly effective and safe for the prevention of schistosomiasis.
authors.affiliation: Antischitosomiasis Hospital of Honghu, Honghu 433200.
authors.forename: S Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Z D
authors.initials: ZD
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Xiao
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D037621:Artemisinins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077332:Artesunate; D004190:Disasters; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012554:Schistosomiasis japonica / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials; D037621:Artemisinins; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; D000077332:Artesunate