Principles of schistosomiasis control in relation to community health care.

The principles of community health care which contribute to control of schistosomiasis comprise 1. accurate demographic and epidemiological survey methods to delineate the numerator of infections over the population denominator, 2. sensitive and specific parasitological techniques to demonstrate the presence of infection and, in appropriate sub-samples, to quantify its intensity, 3. the use of an integrated system of multiple control measures based on an accurate assessment of the ecology of the area, the parasitological status of the inhabitants and the biology and biodynamics of the intermediate snail host, 4. the necessity of community participation in the survey phases and its cooperation in the implementation of physical habitat alteration, in simple aspects of chemical snail control and in health education through local leaders, 5. the employment of population-based chemotherapy. The use of a non-toxic, effective orally administered drug will be a major factor in promoting population compliance in large scale chemotherapeutic control measures and this had been confirmed by evidence derived from recent control campaigns in, for example, Egypt and Brazil. The advent of a new compound seemingly suitable for such use in African conditions augurs well for future control activities.