FORTIFICATION OF FOODS WITH CARICA PAPAYA SEEDS FOR TREATMENT OF SCHISTOSOMIASIS

摘要

Schistosomiasis is classified as among the world's neglected tropical diseases (NTD). Morbidity to S. mansoni is greatest among school-age children who typically have the highest burden of infection. In 2001, World Health Organization (WHO) passed a resolution for large-scale mass drug administration (MDA) using chemotherapy to deworm vulnerable children through school-based programs. However, chemotherapeutic drugs are not recommended for children under the age of 6 years due to their toxicity, despite the fact that this is the age group most infected with schistosomiasis. Additionally, the current school-based MDA does not consider child malnutrition a very common malady in African countries. The current invention discloses the making of a food composition comprising common edible cereals like maize, sorghum or a combination, fortified with extracts from Carica papaya (C. papaya) fruit seeds to form a mixture, and the use of this mixture in the management and or treatment of schistosomiasis.