376 Where There Is No Doctor 2011 Green Pages
FOR SCHISTOSOMIASIS
(BLOOD FLUKES, BILHARZIA)
In different parts of the world there are several
types of schistosomiasis, which require different
treatments. Praziquantel is a medicine that works
against all forms of the disease. Metrifonate and
oxamniquine are effective against some kinds of
schistosomiasis. Medicines should be given under
direction of an experienced health worker.
Praziquantel (Biltricide, Droncit)
Name:__________________ price:________ for_ ______
Often comes in: tablets of 150 or 600 mg.
WARNING: Pregnant women and children under 4
should avoid taking praziquantel if possible. Women
who are breastfeeding should stop giving their
babies breast milk while taking praziquantel and for
72 hours after taking it (squeeze out the milk and
throw it away).
Side effects: Praziquantel frequently causes
tiredness, headache, dizziness, and loss of
appetite, but treatment need not be stopped if
these side effects occur. To lessen side effects,
praziquantel is best taken with a large meal.
Dosage of praziquantel for schistosomiasis
(40 mg./kg.)—using 600 mg. tablets
To treat schistosomiasis that causes blood in the
urine (S. hematobium), give 2 times a day for 1 day.
In each dose give:
adults: 1200 to 1500 mg. (2 to 2 ½ tablets)
children 8 to 12 years: 600 to 900 mg. (1 to
1 ½ tablets)
children 4 to 7 years: 300 mg. (½ tablet)
The above doses will also treat one kind of
schistosomiasis found in East and Central Africa
and South America that causes blood in the stool
(S. mansoni). But in Eastern Asia, schistosomiasis
causing blood in the stool (S. japonicum) requires a
larger dose (60 mg./kg.):
Give 3 times a day for one day. In each
dose give:
adults: 1200 to 1500 mg. (2 to 2 ½ tablets)
children 8 to 12 years: 600 to 900 mg. (1 to
1 ½ tablets)
children 4 to 7 years: 300 mg. (½ tablet)
(To reduce side effects, this larger amount can
be divided into 3 smaller doses, given in one day.)
Metrifonate (Metriphonate, Bilarcil)
Metrifonate is a much cheaper medicine that
can be used to treat schistosomiasis that causes
blood in the urine (S. hematobium). Pregnant
women should not take this medicine.
Name:__________________ price:________ for_ ______
Often comes in: 100 mg. tablets
Dosage of metrifonate for schistosomiasis (7.5 to 10
mg./kg. per dose)—100 mg. tablets
Give 3 doses at 2 week intervals.
In each dose give:
adults: 400 to 600 mg. (4 to 6 tablets)
children 6 to 12 years: 300 mg. (3 tablets)
children 3 to 5 years: 100 mg. (1 tablet)
Oxamniquine (Vansil, Mansil)
Name:_________________________________________
Often comes in:
capsules with 250 mg.
Price:_________________ for_ _________
syrup with 250 mg. in 5 ml.
Price:_________________ for_ _________
Oxamniquine is used to treat schistosomiasis
causing blood in the stools in South and Central
America (S. mansoni). (To treat S. mansoni found
in Africa, larger doses than those given here are
needed. Seek local advice.) This medicine is best
taken after a meal.
WARNING: Pregnant women should not take
oxamniquine. This medicine may cause dizziness,
drowsiness, and, rarely, seizures. Persons with
epilepsy should use oxamniquine only when also
taking epilepsy medicine.
Dosage of oxamniquine (adults: 15 mg./kg./day;
children: 10 mg./kg./twice a day)—250 mg. capsules
Give for one day only:
For adults, give 750 to 1000 mg. (3 or
4 capsules) in one dose.
For children, give the following dose twice
in one day:
children 8 to 12 years: 250 mg.
(1 capsule)
children 4 to 7 years: 125 mg. (½ capsule)
children 1 to 3 years: 63 mg. (¼ capsule)