Albendazole versus thiabendazole as therapy for trichinosis: a retrospective study.
An outbreak of trichinosis caused by ingestion of horse meat occurred in December 1993 in France; more than 500 people were affected. We compared the immediate and midterm efficacy and tolerability of thiabendazole and albendazole as therapy for the 46 patients seen in our department. Forty-four patients (96%) were treated. The first 26 patients received thiabendazole therapy; the next 18 received albendazole therapy. All the patients were tested with prednisone. Eight relapses occurred (seven in the thiabendazole group and one in the albendazole group [not significant]). Side effects of treatment were reported by seven patients, all of whom were treated with thiabendazole (P = .01). Six months after treatment, 16 of the 31 patients who responded to a questionnaire still had symptoms, the most frequent of which were myalgias (81%) and fatigue (69%). No significant difference was observed between the two treatment groups. The immediate efficacy of thiabendazole and albendazole as therapy for trichinosis was comparable, but albendazole was better tolerated.
Cabié
A
A
Service des Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales, Hôpital Bichat Claude Bernard, Paris, France.
Bouchaud
O
O
Houzé
S
S
Khuong
M A
MA
Ruggeri
C
C
Ancelle
T
T
Matheron
S
S
Coulaud
J P
JP
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015766:Albendazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013827:Thiabendazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014235:Trichinellosis / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000871:Anthelmintics; D015766:Albendazole; D013827:Thiabendazole