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Schistosomiasis - Treatment and Prevention
Medical expert of the article
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
Antiparasitic treatment of schistosomiasis is carried out in a hospital setting. Semi-bed rest, no special diet is required. In case of liver damage - table No. 5.
Currently, schistosomiasis is treated with a highly effective drug for all forms of helminthiasis - praziquantel. The drug is prescribed in a dose of 40-75 mg / kg in 2-3 doses after meals at intervals of 4-6 hours for 1 day. Side effects are recorded quite often, but they are mild and short-lived: drowsiness, dizziness, headache, weakness, abdominal pain, sometimes skin rashes.
Specific treatment of schistosomiasis ends after 3-4 weeks with control tests of urine or feces for the presence of schistosome eggs; the tests are repeated three times with an interval of 2 weeks. If the specific treatment is ineffective, praziquantel is prescribed again. Outpatient observation of those who have recovered is carried out for 6 months, and in the presence of complications of the disease - up to 2-3 years.
[ How to prevent schistosomiasis?
Schistosomiasis can be prevented by following these guidelines:
- Early detection and treatment of patients.
- Control of mollusks - intermediate hosts of schistosomes.
- Cleaning of water bodies, prevention of their faecal pollution.
- Ban on swimming in contaminated bodies of water.
- Water disinfection.
- Recommendations to wear protective clothing when in contact with water.
- Health education work with the population.