infections
Schistosomiasis
Treatment of Schistosomiasis
Praziquantel(an antiparasitic medication) For schistosomiasis treatment, 2 or 3 doses ofpraziquantelare taken by mouth over 1 day, depending on theSchistosomaspecies that is causing the infection. If the stool or urine initially contained living eggs, doctors may check samples again in 1 to 2 months to determine whether treatment was successful. If living eggs are still present, treatment withpraziquantelis repeated. Praziquanteleffectively kills adult schistosomes, but not the immature forms, which are present early in the infection. Thus, for travelers, treatment withpraziquantelis delayed for 6 to 8 weeks after people were last exposed to the parasite—to give the immature forms time to become adults. If symptoms of acute schistosomiasis (Katayama fever) are severe, corticosteroids may help. After the symptoms of acute schistosomiasis have resolved, which usually takes around 5 days,praziquantelis taken to kill adult schistosomes and is repeated 4 to 6 weeks later after the remaining immature forms of schistosomes have become adults. People with swimmer's itch do not need to take drugs to kill the schistosomes. Cool compresses, baking soda, anti-itch lotions, and/or corticosteroid creams or ointments may be used to help relieve intense itching. 