title: Efficacy of praziquantel during the incubation and invasive phase of Schistosoma haematobium schistosomiasis in 18 travelers.
abstract: The efficacy of praziquantel started during the incubation period of schistosomiasis has not been studied. Eighteen tourists were infected by Schistosoma haematobium during summer 2003 after bathing once in the same cascade in Mali. We observed the efficacy of praziquantel given at different phases. They received praziquantel at the first consultation, from Days 10 to 15 after exposure in eight asymptomatic patients (Group 1), from Days 28 to 40 in 4 asymptomatic patients (Group 2), and from Days 20 to 39 in 6 patients with acute schistosomiasis (Group 3). All Group 1 patients developed acute schistosomiasis, compared with none of the Group 2 patients (P < 0.004). Among the 10 patients treated during the acute phase, clinical status deteriorated in four cases. Seventeen of the 18 patients developed chronic schistosomiasis. Early praziquantel treatment was thus less effective than later treatment in preventing acute schistosomiasis, while neither treatment effectively prevented chronic schistosomiasis.
authors: Department of Infectious and Tropical Disease, and Parasitology-Mycology, Hopital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France. lucia.perez@infonie.fr
authors: Lucia
authors: L
authors: Grandière-Pérez
authors: Séverine
authors: S
authors: Ansart
authors: Luc
authors: L
authors: Paris
authors: Alexandra
authors: A
authors: Faussart
authors: Stéphane
authors: S
authors: Jaureguiberry
authors: Jean-Philippe
authors: JP
authors: Grivois
authors: Elise
authors: E
authors: Klement
authors: François
authors: F
authors: Bricaire
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Danis
authors: Eric
authors: E
authors: Caumes