Practical difficulties in the treatment of schistosomiasis in an Arab community, Part II

Abstract

1. 1) Experience of various methods of treating schistosomiasis is described. It is thought that the 6 days course of sodium antimonylgluconate is the method of choice. Relapsed cases may be given the standard course of sodium or potassium antimony tartrate or a repeat course of sodium antimonylgluconate. In either instance a normal E.C.G. tracing should be obtained from the patient before embarking on the second treatment. 2. 2) It is possible that the commoner helminth causing urinary schistosomiasis in and around Kuwait is a subspecies of S. haematobium, producing ova which are relatively long and thin. 3. 3) There has been an increase in the incidence of schistosomiasis in Kuwait. It is difficult to decide if this is apparent or due to true endemic infection. Further investigation is urgently required. 4. 4) It is possible that there is a seasonal variation in the incidence of the onset of symptoms of schistosomiasis.