A preliminary report on the treatment of intestinal schistosomiasis with oxamniquine.

Oxamniquine proved to be an efficient drug for the treatment of Schistosoma mansoni in adults. The cure rate obtained with a single oral dose of 15 mg/kg was 81.3 per cent. With 15 mg given b.d. for a single day the cure rate was 90 per cent. Post-treatment reduction of egg count was 93.7 and 95 per cent respectively within three months follow-up period. The drug, given by the oral route, was well tolerated, non-toxic, and side-effects were evanescent. Further studies are needed to indicate its use for mass treatment and control of schistosomiasis.