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Field Trials with Oxamniquine in a Schistosomiasis Mansoni-Endemic Area^*

In Peri-Peri (Minas Gerais), an area endemic for Schistosoma mansoni, 591 inhabitants were examined. A coprological survey showed a prevalence of infection of 43.7%. After clinical examination 220 patients were distributed into three groups for treatment with oxamniquine: in Group 1, 19 children (2 to 15 years) were treated with a single oral dose of drug suspension around 20 mg/kg body weight; in Group 2, 47 children were treated orally with two 10 mg/kg doses with a 6- to 8-hour interval between them; in Group 3, 154 adults were treated with a single dose of about 15 mg/kg (capsules). The most frequent side effects were dizziness, drowsiness, and headache. No statistical difference in frequency of side effects was observed between Groups 1 and 2. Nevertheless, after treatment 32% of the patients in Group 1 complained of dizziness and 13% of headache, whereas in Group 2 the frequencies of these symptoms were 2% and 0%, respectively. Adults (Group 3) had a higher frequency of side effects, their chief complaints being dizziness and drowsiness. In Groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively, 73.7%, 62.2%, and 82.4% of the patients were cured. Statistical analysis did not show any difference in cure rates between children in Groups 1 and 2; however, a significance was found when compared with the cure rate observed in adults, showing the drug to be more active in the latter group. In 61.8% of the 40 patients not cured a decrease of over 90% in the number of S. mansoni eggs/g feces was observed. From the data above oxamniquine seems to be an effective schistosomicidal drug suitable for use in endemic areas, although further studies are still needed.

Accepted for publication June 26, 1976.

^* Work carried out at the Research Center "René Rachou," Fiocruz, with the support of Conselho Nacional de Pesquisas.

Address reprint requests to: Dr. Naftale Katz, Caixa Postal, 1743, Belo Horizonte, 30000 Brazil.