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Pathogens
Volume 14
Issue 2
10.3390/pathogens14020123
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This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Effect of Praziquantel Treatment on the Nutritional Status of Children Infected with Schistosoma haematobium

by
Louis Fok
1,
Hongying Daisy Dai
2,
David M. Brett-Major
1,3,
Abebe Animut
4,
Berhanu Erko
4,
John Linville
5,
Yohannes Negash
4 and
Abraham Degarege
1,*
1
Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
2
Department of Biostatistics, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
3
Division of Infectious Diseases, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
4
Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 1176, Ethiopia
5
Department of Environmental, Agricultural & Occupational Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Pathogens 2025, 14(2), 123; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens14020123
Submission received: 1 December 2024 / Revised: 16 January 2025 / Accepted: 27 January 2025 / Published: 29 January 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Epidemiology, Diagnosis and Clinical Management of Human Parasitic Infections)
Review Reports Versions Notes

Abstract

This quasi-experimental trial examined the relationship between Schistosoma haematobium infection and nutritional status, and the impact of single dose praziquantel (PZQ) therapy on undernutrition. A total of 353 children were examined, 112 of which were infected with S. haematobium and treated with PZQ. Children’s heights, weights, and mid-upper arm circumferences (MUAC) were measured at baseline and one month post-treatment. Infected children had significantly smaller mean BMI-for-age z-scores (BAZ) (−1.16 vs. 0.11, p < 0.01) and weight-for-age z-scores (WAZ) (−0.61 vs. −0.31, p = 0.03) than the uninfected ones at baseline. S. haematobium infection was associated with underweight (adjusted OR: 1.76, 95% CI: 1.63–1.90). One month after treatment, BAZ, WAZ, height for age z-scores (HAZ), and MUAC scores were comparable between treated and control children. However, there was a significant decrease in the prevalence of underweight among treated children, while no significant change was observed in the control group one month post-treatment. In conclusion, children infected with S. haematobium are likely to suffer from undernutrition; however, single dose PZQ therapy may not improve their nutritional status within one month of treatment. Future studies could have longer follow-up periods to better estimate the drug’s effect on nutrition.
Keywords: praziquantel; urogenital schistosomiasis; Schistosoma haematobium; nutrition praziquantel; urogenital schistosomiasis; Schistosoma haematobium; nutrition

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MDPI and ACS Style

Fok, L.; Dai, H.D.; Brett-Major, D.M.; Animut, A.; Erko, B.; Linville, J.; Negash, Y.; Degarege, A. Effect of Praziquantel Treatment on the Nutritional Status of Children Infected with Schistosoma haematobium. Pathogens 2025, 14, 123. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens14020123

AMA Style

Fok L, Dai HD, Brett-Major DM, Animut A, Erko B, Linville J, Negash Y, Degarege A. Effect of Praziquantel Treatment on the Nutritional Status of Children Infected with Schistosoma haematobium. Pathogens. 2025; 14(2):123. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens14020123

Chicago/Turabian Style

Fok, Louis, Hongying Daisy Dai, David M. Brett-Major, Abebe Animut, Berhanu Erko, John Linville, Yohannes Negash, and Abraham Degarege. 2025. "Effect of Praziquantel Treatment on the Nutritional Status of Children Infected with Schistosoma haematobium" Pathogens 14, no. 2: 123. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens14020123

APA Style

Fok, L., Dai, H. D., Brett-Major, D. M., Animut, A., Erko, B., Linville, J., Negash, Y., & Degarege, A. (2025). Effect of Praziquantel Treatment on the Nutritional Status of Children Infected with Schistosoma haematobium. Pathogens, 14(2), 123. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens14020123

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