Schistosomiasis medical therapy
|
Schistosomiasis Microchapters |
|
Diagnosis |
|---|
|
Treatment |
|
Case Studies |
|
Schistosomiasis medical therapy On the Web |
|
American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Schistosomiasis medical therapy |
|
Risk calculators and risk factors for Schistosomiasis medical therapy |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Medical Therapy
Schistosomiasis is readily treated using a single oral dose of the drug Praziquantel. While Praziquantel is safe and highly effective in curing an infected patient, it does not prevent re-infection by cercariae and is thus not an optimum treatment for people living in endemic areas. As with other major parasitic diseases, there is ongoing and extensive research into developing a vaccine that will prevent the parasite from completing its life cycle in humans.
Antimony has been used in the past to treat the disease. In low doses, this toxic metalloid bonds to sulfur atoms in enzymes used by the parasite and kills it without harming the host. This treatment is not referred to in present-day peer-review scholarship; Praziquantel is universally used. Outside of the US, there is a second drug available for treating Schistosoma mansoni (exclusively) called Oxamniquine.
Mirazid, a new Egyptian drug, is under investigation for oral treatment of the disease.
Experiments have shown medicinal Castor oil as an oral anti-penetration agent to prevent Schistosomiasis and that praziquantel's effectiveness depended upon the vehicle used to administer the drug (e.g., Cremophor / Castor oil).[1]
Additionally Dr Chidzere of Zimbabwe researched the Gopo Berry (Phytolacca dodecandra) during the 1980's and found that the Gopo Berry could be used in the control of the freshwater snails which carry the bilharzia disease (Schistosomiasis parasite). Dr Chidzere in his interview to Andrew Blake (1989) reported concerns of muti-national chemical companies keen to rubbish the Gopu Berry alternative for snail control [2]. Reputedly Gopo Berries from hotter Ethiopia climates yield the best results. Later studies were between 1993-95 by the Danish Research Network for international health. [3]
References
- ↑ "Schistosoma mansoni: experimental chemoprophylaxis in mice using oral anti-penetration agents". pubmed. Retrieved 2007-01-25.
- ↑ The Gopu Berry p33. Part 4 School Journal number.2 1989 Dept of Education Wellington N.Z
- ↑ http://enrecahealth.ku.dk/postgrad_dbl_en/chihaka_abs/