Schistosomiasis treatment in young children: a welcome step towards deployment of the paediatric praziquantel formulation.

Abstract

It is an awkward fact that effective public health control of schistosomiasis in Africa has yet to deliver a fully comprehensive intervention for appropriate anthelmintic treatment of those preschool-age children and infants with active infection(s) and/or insidious disease. Over the last decade, despite the steady progress of the Pediatric Praziquantel Consortium in developing a monoenantiomeric oral dispersible tablet, future challenges remain in securing its deployment and implementation at scale. This commentary provides a forward-looking critique for the international community, reminding us of this unfortunate treatment gap, and seeks to encourage commensurate action on ameliorating this overlooked medical inequity.