title: Rate of expulsion of Trichuris trichiura with multiple and single dose regimens of albendazole.
abstract: The efficacy of multiple and single dose regimens of albendazole on Trichuris trichiura infection was evaluated by counting the number of worms expelled/day from two pair-matched groups of children, for nine days following therapy. The temporal patterns of worm expulsion were similar whether the children received a single 400 mg dose or two consecutive doses: no worms were passed before the second day, or after the sixth day, after intervention, and the maximum worm expulsion rate was attained on the fourth day. A second treatment six days after the first expelled no more worms. The results obtained here resemble those obtained previously with a three-day (600 mg) regimen of mebendazole in a study of heavily infected children. We conclude: that irrespective of dose, benzimidazole carbamates require the gut transit time plus 48 hours to immobilize T. trichiura; and that a single dose of albendazole is effective against light infections of T. trichiura but requires further evaluation with high intensity infections.
mesh_terms: D015766:Albendazole; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001562:Benzimidazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D006801:Humans; D010270:Parasite Egg Count; D014257:Trichuriasis / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics; D001562:Benzimidazoles; D015766:Albendazole