title: A randomized trial of single- and two-dose ivermectin versus thiabendazole for treatment of strongyloidiasis.
abstract: A randomized trial is described comparing ivermectin and thiabendazole for treatment of chronic infection with Strongyloides stercoralis. Subjects received ivermectin (200 micrograms/kg) in a single dose, ivermectin (200 micrograms/kg) on 2 consecutive days, or thiabendazole (50 mg/kg/day) twice daily for 3 consecutive days. Most subjects (94%) had intermittent symptoms, including urticaria, epigastric pain, and diarrhea. Stools were examined 7 days and 1, 3, 6, 10, and 22 months after treatment. Fifty-three subjects completed at least 3 months of follow-up. Only 1 of 34 and 2 of 19 ivermectin and thiabendazole subjects, respectively, had a stool positive for larvae after treatment. Symptoms were relieved in all 3 groups and eosinophil levels returned to normal in 90% of all subjects by 12 months. Nearly 95% of thiabendazole subjects had short-term adverse effects during therapy versus only 18% of those treated with ivermectin. One dose of ivermectin provides safety and efficacy equivalent to thiabendazole with a much lower prevalence of side effects and, consequently, better compliance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Illinois 60611.
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Gann
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Neva
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Gam
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007559:Ivermectin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017171:Strongyloides stercoralis; D013322:Strongyloidiasis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013827:Thiabendazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D007559:Ivermectin; D013827:Thiabendazole