Interventions for treating schistosomiasis haematobium (Cochrane Review)

A substantive amendment to this systematic review was last made on 27 February 1997. Cochrane reviews are regularly checked and updated if necessary.

Background: Schistosomiasis is a parasite that is carried by freshwater snails. There are two common forms, urinary schistosomiasis (which is considered in this review) and intestinal schistosomiasis.

Objectives: The objective of this review was to assess the effects of drugs for treatment of Schistosomiasis haematobium.

Search strategy: The Cochrane Infectious Diseases Group trials register, Medline and reference lists of articles were searched. The WHO Division of Control of Tropical Diseases was contacted.

Selection criteria: Randomised trials of metrifonate or praziquantel or other drugs for treating Schistosomiasis haematobium.

Data collection and analysis: One reviewer assessed trial quality and extracted data, and this was checked by a review editor.

Main results: Five trials, all from Africa, were included. The quality of the trials was variable. There were no good randomised controlled trials of praziquantel single dose treatment versus current standard treatment with metrifonate of three doses of 10 milligrams per kilogram at two weekly intervals. Praziquantel at doses of 40 milligram per kilogram was more effective than single dose metrifonate 10 milligrams per kilogram (odds ratio 6.94, 95% confidence interval 4.85 to 9.92). In one trial of metrifonate compared with praziquantel, there was no difference demonstrated in a range of clinical outcomes including cessation of haematuria and proteinuria. Both drugs improved nutritional status and physical fitness.

Reviewers' conclusions: Praziquantel (single dose) appears to be more effective than metrifonate (split dose) in terms of parasitological cure of Schistosomiasis haematobium, but the reinfection rate is high with both drugs.

Citation: Squires N. Interventions for treating schistosomiasis haematobium (Cochrane Review). In: The Cochrane Library, Issue 3, 2003. Oxford: Update Software.

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This is an abstract of a regularly updated, systematic review prepared and maintained by the Cochrane Collaboration. The full text of the review is available in The Cochrane Library (ISSN 1464-780X).

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