Clinical field trials of praziquantel in pulmonary paragonimiasis due to Paragonimus uterobilateralis in endemic populations of the Igwun Basin, Nigeria.

A clinical field trial of praziquantel was carried out on patients infected with Paragonimus uterobilateralis in the Igwun Basin, Nigeria. 332 patients were subjected to the praziquantel therapy. 290 (87.3%) reverted to negative status. The pattern of reduction in sputum and faecal egg counts was related to the quantity of praziquantel administered. With 45 mg daily dose reduction in sputum egg counts ranged from 83.2% to 87.3% with reversion rate of 71.1%; with 60 mg daily dose, 84.8-88.3% reduction was recorded with 85.4% cure rate. With 75 mg daily dose reduction rate ranged between 90.8-96.8%, with cure rate of 97.6%. A cure rate of 100% was recorded in 15-29 year old patients treated with 75 mg daily dose. The recommended effective dose treatment of Paragonimus uterobilateralis infection with praziquantel is therefore 75 mg/kg body weight/day for two days.