Schistosoma haematobium in Ajara community of Badagry. Metrifonate trials in the treatment of the disease.

Metrifonate, an organophosphorus cholinesterase inhibitor, which has been shown to be effective in the treatment of urinary schistosomiasis was administered orally to 145 school children aged 6-15 years at a dose of 10 mg/kg body weight in 3 doses at 14-day intervals. Urinalysis was carried out to determine egg out-put, haematuria and proteinuria. None of the subjects was anaemic before treatment, 78.6% tolerated the drug well while 21.4% had minimal and transient side-effects. 47.6% with light infections, 29.9% with moderate infections and 5.1% with heavy infections, had no ova of S. haematobium in their urine after the first dose. The pre- and post-treatment urinalysis showed very significant reductions in the number of subjects with haematuria and proteinuria. However, some of those with no ova of S. haematobium in their urine still had haematuria and proteinuria. The determination of these parameters indicates the intensity of infection and can be used in assessing the results of chemotherapy.