A trial of oral oxamniquine in the treatment of Schistosoma infection in children.

Oral oxamniquine 800 mg/m2 body surface area/day in divided doses for 2 days, was given to 57 children with schistosomal infections. Haematological and biochemical tests suggest that this drug is safe, even in the presence of significant liver enlargement. Parasitological investigations in 32 children who were followed up for 1 month indicate that oxamniquine is effective in the treatment of S. mansoni infection, but that it has little effect on S. haematobium infection.