Double-blind placebo-controlled study of concurrent administration of albendazole and praziquantel in schoolchildren with schistosomiasis and geohelminths

A double-blind placebo-controlled study of the concurrent administration of albendazole and praziquantel was conducted in >1500 children with high-pre valences of geohelminths and schistosomiasis. The study sites were in China and the Philippines, including 2 strains Of Schistosoma japonicum,: and 2 different regions of Kenya, 1 each with endemic Schistosoma mansoni or Schi stosoma haematobium. Neither medication affected the cure rate of the other . There was no difference between the side effect rate from albendazole or the double placebo. Praziquantel-treated children had more nausea, abdomina l pain, and headache but these side effects were statistically more common in children with schistosomiasis, suggesting a strong influence of dying pa rasites. The subjects were followed for 6 months for changes in infection s tatus, growth parameters, hemoglobin, and schistosomiasis morbidity, In all 4 sites, a significant 6-month increase in serum hemoglobin was observed i n children who received praziquantel, strongly supporting population-based mass treatment.