title: Comparative study of chewable pyrantel pamoate: should standards for chewable tablets be revised?
abstract: Chewable pyrantel pamoate tablets were administered to children randomly assigned to three treatment groups. Individuals in each group were instructed either to swallow whole, to chew and swallow, or to swallow previously pulverized tablets. With respect to Ascaris, results of posttreatment stool examinations indicated no differences in cure rates and egg reduction rates between the different modes of treatment. However, for both hookworm and Trichuris, mean egg counts increased for both swallow and chew groups, but decreased in the pulverized group. In addition to the highest egg reduction rates, the most parasitological cures were also seen in the pulverized group for these two worms. The status of standards for chewable tablets is discussed. Until the standards are changed it is recommended that all chewable tablets be crushed before swallowing.
authors.affiliation: Immanuel Lutheran Hospital, Wapenamanda, Enga Province, Papua New Guinea.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wesche
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lutz
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Barnish
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001196:Ascariasis / Q000188:drug therapy; D002648:Child; D006725:Hookworm Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008409:Mastication; D009349:Nematode Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011716:Pyrantel Pamoate / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013607:Tablets / Q000592:standards; D014257:Trichuriasis / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D013607:Tablets; D011716:Pyrantel Pamoate