2024-01-11 20:08:00
The IMT speaks of a “promising therapeutic alternative for a neglected tropical disease”. Schistosomiasis is caused by infection with parasitic worms found in fresh water in some tropical and subtropical countries. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are 200 to 250 million infections each year, responsible for 200,000 deaths. Children are particularly susceptible to this disease. And, generally, poor populations in rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa are most at risk.
If left untreated, the infection can affect the lungs, liver, spleen, bladder and intestines.
“Until now, treatment has relied on a single drug, praziquantel,” reports the institute. “Due to its massive use, the parasite has become more resistant to the drug. Looking for an alternative, our team looked into the combination of two drugs: artesunate and mefloquine, a widely used treatment once morest malaria.”
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A clinical study was thus carried out on 718 children in primary schools in northern Senegal – where schistosomiasis is quite widespread -, in collaboration with the Institute of Health Research, Epidemiological Surveillance and Training (IRESSEF) in Dakar. , in Senegal.
“Our results show that the antimalarial combination is safe for the treatment of schistosomiasis and is as effective as praziquantel,” said Professor Emmanuel Bottieau. “This discovery opens perspectives for second-line treatments or for co-infections linked to malaria, a common problem in African countries.”
“Schistosomiasis is one of the five main diseases for which people contact us when returning from their trip abroad,” concludes the institute. “Hosts become infested by swimming or wading in contaminated fresh water.”
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