title: The WHO dose pole for the administration of praziquantel is also accurate in non-African populations.
abstract: In 2001, WHO developed a pole for the administration of praziquantel without the use of weighing scales, with encouraging results in African populations. In the present study, the pole was tested on height/weight data from 9354 individuals from 11 non-African countries. In more than 98% of the individuals (95% CI 97.8-98.4) the pole estimated an acceptable dosage (30-60 mg/kg), a performance statistically similar to that observed in African populations. Reproducing the present pole in the form of a strip of paper and including it in each container of praziquantel would greatly facilitate the administration of the drug in large-scale interventions.
authors.affiliation: Vectorborne and other Parasitic Diseases, World Health Organization, 63 Tran Hung Dao Street, Mail P.O. Box 52, Hanoi, Viet Nam. montresora@vtn.wpro.who.int
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Montresor
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Odermatt
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Muth
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Iwata
authors.forename: Y A
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Raja'a
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Assis
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zulkifli
authors.forename: N B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Kabatereine
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fenwick
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Al-Awaidy
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Engels
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Savioli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D019353:Endemic Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008875:Middle Aged; D011223:Praziquantel / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012552:Schistosomiasis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014944:World Health Organization
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics; D011223:Praziquantel