Antiparasitic therapy of children in Equatorial Africa
Richard-Lenoble, D.; Kombila, M.; Nguembi-Mbina, C.; Gendrel, D.
Archives Francaises de Pediatrie 42(Suppl 2): 977-981
1985
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-9764 PMID: 3833110 Document Number: 262469
Parasitic infections are endemic in children in Africa, making eradication an impossibility. Therapy is directed towards the individual manifesting an imbalance in the host-parasite relationship. Sanitation education is often disappointing, and until effective vaccines are developed, drug therapy remains the only worthwhile intervention. In order for a drug to be used on a mass campaign basis, financial considerations and side effects are of primary importance. Mefloquine has been shown to be a useful second line drug for chloroquine resistant strains of malaria in our Parasitology department. Benzimidazoles in a single dose are useful for intestinal nematode infections. New drugs are now available for schistosomiasis, filariasis, and protozoan infections.