title: Albendazole treatment in human taeniasis.
abstract: The results are presented of albendazole trials on human taeniasis infections in Honduras, involving 56 of 68 individuals (2% of the inhabitants) found to be infected during surveys conducted in 15 rural communities. Of the 3 methods used for diagnosis of infection, the Kato cellophane thick smear showed 80% reliability, a combination of Kato and 'Scotch' tape perianal swab 88%, and clinical history of proglottid expulsion less than 50%. Individuals were treated with a dose of 400 mg of albendazole per day for 3 d, followed for 5 d to verify tapeworm expulsion, and evaluated again at 60 and 90 d to assess drug efficacy. All 56 treated individuals remained stool-negative after 60 and 90 d; a partial strobila or segments were recovered from 21 of them (37.5%). Of these, Taenia saginata was identified from 4, and T. solium from 15; 2 specimens could not be specifically identified. Based on negative stool examinations and clinical history after 60 and 90 d, albendazole seems to be a well tolerated, very effective drug for treating infections with Taenia spp. However, confirmation of these results is needed due to the difficulty of making a reliable diagnosis of such infections.
authors.affiliation: Dirección de Investigación Científica, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras.
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: de Kaminsky
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015766:Albendazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013621:Taenia / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013622:Taeniasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology
chemical_list: D015766:Albendazole