Effectiveness of praziquantel against the South African strains of Schistosoma haematobium and S. mansoni.

A total of 137 Black children from two schools in Natal, infected with either Schistosoma haematobium or S. mansoni, or both, were treated with praziquantel (Biltricide; Bayer-Miles) at a dosage of 40 mg/kg body weight. Dramatic reductions in egg output occurred within a matter of days and high cure rates (greater than or equal to 97%) were obtained in both S. haematobium and S. mansoni infections. Side-effects were of short duration and not serious.