title: Efficacy of praziquantel in the treatment of Schistosoma haematobium infection among school-age children in rural communities of Abeokuta, Nigeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chemotherapy with praziquantel (PZQ) has been the cornerstone of schistosomiasis control over the last two decades. Being the only available drug for the treatment of over 200 million people worldwide, continuous monitoring of PZQ efficacy under the pressure of widespread use is therefore advocated.
  
  
  METHODS
  The efficacy of taking two doses of oral PZQ for the treatment of Schistosoma haematobium was examined among school children in Nigeria. Urine specimens were collected from 350 school children and examined using the filtration technique. Blood was collected for packed cell volume (PCV) estimation, and the weight and height of each child were estimated. S. haematobium egg positive pupils were treated with two oral doses of PZQ at 40 mg/kg with a four-week interval in between. Drug efficacy was determined based on the egg reduction rate (ERR).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 350 school children, 245 (70.0%) - of which 132 were males and 113 were females, with an age range of 4 to 15 years - were diagnosed with S. haematobium. All the 245 infected children received a single oral dose of 40 mg/kg PZQ twice with a four-week interval in between and were followed up for 12 weeks. At four, eight and twelve weeks post treatment, the ERR was 57.1%, 77.6% and 100%, respectively. The ERR was significantly higher among the children with a light infection compared to those with a heavy infection. One hundred and twenty-one children were egg negative at four weeks post treatment, among which 1 (6.3) and 120 (52.4%) had heavy and light infections, respectively. Following the second round of treatment, the cure rate at eight weeks and twelve weeks was 85.3% and 100%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrated the efficacy of taking two doses of oral PZQ for the treatment of urinary schistosomiasis among school children in Nigeria.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Osogbo, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Olusola
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ojurongbe
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, General Hospital, Ijaye, Abeokuta, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Olawunwi Risqat
authors.initials: OR
authors.lastname: Sina-Agbaje
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Laboratory Services, Olikoye Ransome-Kuti Hospital, Abeokuta, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Abass
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Busari
authors.affiliation: Institute for Advanced Medical Research and Training, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Patricia Nkem
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Okorie
authors.affiliation: Department of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Osun State University, Osogbo, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Taiwo Adetola
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Ojurongbe
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Osogbo, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Akeem Abiodun
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Akindele
keywords: Drug efficacy; Nigeria; Praziquantel; School children; Urinary schistosomiasis