Side Effects of Praziquantel in the Treatment of Urinary Schistosomiasis in Kenya

Abstract

Side effects of praziquantel in a single-dose treatment of urinary schistosomiasis at 40 mg/kg were studied on 174 subjects by means of questioning clinical manifestations before and 24 hr after treatment. The numbers of abdominal pain/discomfort, nausea/vomiting and dizziness/lassitude increased after treatment at a statistically significant level. "Possible" side reactions, defined as clinical manifestations developed newly or increased their degree of severity after treatment, were experienced by 55.7% of the treated people. Females suffered more nausea/vomiting than males, and people of age 16-20 years had reactions more frequently than the other ages. With a few exceptions, the adverse effects were mild and disappeared within 11 hr after their onset.