Tartar emetic (potassium antimony tartrate) has been used since a long time as the drug of choice for the treatment of Bilharziasis in Egypt. This drug, though effective, has severe side effects. A newly synthesized trivalent antimony preparation (piperazine di-antimonyl tratrate) Bilharcid, has proved in animal experiments to be less toxic, more effective, and having little side effects. The drug was tried in various schemes on various age groups of patients infected with S. haematobium. Control cases were treated with tartar emetic. Urine analysis was done for the detection of living or dead ova before and after treatment. E.C.G., alkaline phosphatase, serum transaminase, lactic dehydrogenase, and urea tests were done before and after treatment. Follow up studies were recorded for three months after treatment. Results are presented in the full text.
Adolescent Adult