Side effects of praziquantel in bilharzial children on a field level.

For studying the side effects of praziquantel in children with active intestinal bilharziasis 6 groups of children were followed: group P-1 (active intestinal bilharziasis +/- hepatosplenomegaly). They were treated with praziquantel (40 mg/Kg b.w. orally every 6 months). group P-2 (children with active mansoniasis +/- hepatosplenomegaly. They were treated with an initial full dose of praziquantel (40 mg/kg) to be followed by suppressive dose (20 mg/kg) at 3-months intervals, group P-3 (school children with active mansoniasis +/- hepatosplenomegaly). Initial loading praziquantel dose was followed by suppressive dose at monthly intervals, group N-1 (non-bilharzial children given an oral monthly praziquantel prophylactic dose of 20 mg/kg, group N-2 (non-bilharzial children given an oral 3-monthly praziquantel prophylactic dose of 20 mg/kg), group N-3 (non-bilharzial school children given an oral placebo in the form of vitamin B complex tablets at 3-monthly intervals. Surveillance for praziquantel adverse reactions for all these groups was done. It revealed that the adverse reactions were nausea, vomiting, abdominal colic, diarrhea, dizziness, headache and pyrexia. These were noticed more after full therapeutic praziquantel dose than half doses (subcurative or prophylactic) & among bilharzial children than non-bilharzial cases. As regards school children with active urinary hematobiasis 3 groups were followed: Group 1 (school children with active urinary hematobiasis treated with praziquantel orally 40 mg/kg b.w. every 6 months). Group 2 (non-bilharzial school children given oral monthly prophylactic dose of 20 mg/kg b.w. praziquantel). Group 3 (non-bilharzial school children given oral placebo in the form of two vitamin B-complex tablets monthly).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)