Evaluation of a twice-a-week application of 1% niclosamide lotion in preventing Schistosoma haematobium reinfection

• Published in: The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene Vol. 51; no. 6; p. 875
• Main Authors: Podgore, J K, Abu-Elyazeed, R R, Mansour, N S, Youssef, F G, Hibbs, R G, Gere, J A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.12.1994
• Subjects: Administration, Topical; Adult; Agricultural Workers' Diseases - prevention & control; Double-Blind Method; Egypt; Humans; Male; Niclosamide - administration & dosage; Niclosamide - therapeutic use; Recurrence; Schistosomiasis haematobia - prevention & control; Self Administration; Urine - parasitology; Egypt
• ISSN: 0002-9637
• DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.1994.51.875

A randomized double-blind trial was conducted to assess the efficacy of a twice-a-week application of 1% niclosamide lotion for prevention of Schistosoma haematobium reinfection. Six hundred farmers in Fayoum, Egypt, 18-40 years of age, were treated to cure their S. haematobium infection, then randomly assigned to self-apply niclosamide or placebo lotion to their limbs, neck, and torso. Subjects were exposed to schistosomal-infested water during routine irrigation activities from April to October 1992. Three hundred fifty subjects met the inclusion criteria and completed the trial, 169 (48.3%) in the niclosamide group and 181 (51.7%) in the placebo group. The subjects assigned to the niclosamide-treated group were comparable with those in the placebo group in age (27.2 versus 27.8 years), total water contact (101.9 versus 109.0 hr), lotion application compliance (93.5% versus 90.6%), and avoidance of whole body water contact (94.7% versus 96.7%). The reinfection rate with S. haematobium was 30.8% in the niclosamide-treated group and 28.2% in the placebo group. Niclosamide lotion applied to the limbs and trunk twice a week failed to prevent S. haematobium reinfection.