Failure of thiabendazole and metronidazole in the treatment and suppression of guinea worm disease.
Guinea worm disease is endemic in West Africa. In 1973 a field drug trial was conducted to compare effectiveness, cost, and side-effects of thiabendazole and metronidazole in treating active guinea worm disease and preventing latent worms from emerging. A mass chemotherapy campaign was planned to follow the drug trial. Only 15.5% of the treated patients expelled the worm completely, and in 28.4% of the cases worms continued to appear. Both drugs were equally unsatisfactory in their anti-helminthic effect. Consequently, our efforts to control guinea worm have shifted from chemotherapy to chemical control of cyclops and improvement of rural water supplies.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000354:Africa, Western; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004320:Dracunculiasis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004321:Dracunculus Nematode / Q000187:drug effects / Q000469:parasitology; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D013827:Thiabendazole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D008795:Metronidazole; D013827:Thiabendazole