A. Hall et al., Alternatives to bodyweight for estimating the dose of praziquantel needed to treat schistosomiasis, T RS TROP M, 93(6), 1999, pp. 653-658
Citations number
11
Categorie Soggetti
Medical Research General Topics
Journal title
TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE
Data on age, height and mid upper-arm circumference (MUAC) from nearly 6000
schoolchildren in Ghana, Tanzania and Malawi (not MUAC) were used to exami
ne their power to predict bodyweight and thus the dosage of praziquantel re
quired to treat schistosomiasis. Height was found to provide a simple and r
easonably accurate estimate of weight, and about 75% of children would have
been given a dosage of praziquantel within the range normally given using
bodyweight at a dosage of 40 mg/kg bodyweight. The upper and lower ranges i
n dosage did not exceed dosages of praziquantel which have been used before
or are currently recommended to treat schistosomiasis. A pole marked with
the number of tablets could thus be used as a simple way to determine the d
ose of praziquantel to treat children in school-based health programmes.