Interventions for treating schistosomiasis mansoni (Cochrane Review)

A substantive amendment to this systematic review was last made on 20 March 1999. Cochrane reviews are regularly checked and updated if necessary.

Background: Schistosoma mansoni is a parasite carried by freshwater snails. S. mansoni infects the intestine, liver and spleen and can be fatal.

Objectives: To assess the effects of oxamniquine and praziquantel for treating S. mansoni infection.

Search strategy: We searched the Cochrane Infectious Diseases Group trials register, the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, Medline, Lilacs and reference lists of articles. The Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical and Brazilian Tropical Medicine Congress abstracts were hand searched

Selection criteria: Randomised and quasi-randomised trials comparing oxamniquine and/or praziquantel with placebo for the treatment of S. mansoni.

Data collection and analysis: Two reviewers independently assessed trial quality and extracted data.

Main results: Thirteen trials met the inclusion criteria. Oxamniquine and praziquantel are effective in curing S. mansoni infection when compared to placebo. In Africa, 15 mg/kg oxamniquine is less effective than 40 mg/kg praziquantel in people older than 14 years (OR 0.23, 95% CI 0.09 to 0.60), but no difference was shown using 30 mg/kg oxamniquine (OR 2.88, 95% CI 0.69 to 11.96). In Brazil, 15 to 19 mg/kg oxamniquine is as effective as 50 to 70 mg/kg praziquantel in people older than 14 years (OR 0.61, 95% CI 0.26 to 1.46). Both drugs appear safe. No difference in reinfection rate between zinc supplementation and placebo has been shown.

Reviewers' conclusions: Oxamniquine and praziquantel both appear to be effective for treatment of S. mansoni, although lower doses of oxamniquine (less than 30 mg/kg) may not be as effective in some areas.

Citation: Saconato H, Atallah A.. Interventions for treating schistosomiasis mansoni (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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