Efficacy of a single dose treatment of Wuchereria bancrofti microfilaria carriers with diethylcarbamazine in Matara, Sri Lanka.
OBJECTIVE
To test the efficacy of diethylcarbamazine DEC single dose regimen of 6 mg/kg body weight (bw) on a sample of Wuchereria bancrofti microfilaria (mf) carriers in Matara.


METHODS
6 mg/kg bw DEC dose in 50 mg tablets given under direct observation to the subjects at 23.00 hours after pre-treatment blood collection for mf counts. Post-treatment mf counts were at 1, 2 weeks and 1, 3, 6, 12 months.


METHODS
31 asymptomatic mf carriers, 14 males, age range 6 to 62 years.


RESULTS
Treatment resulted in 89 to 97% success rate, 19 to 28% cure rates and 74 to 80% reduction in mf density. There was no difference statistically in the success rate and cure rate at 6 and 12 months. The effect of DEC treatment at 6 and 12 months compared by sex, age group and pre-treatment mf level showed no difference. 64.5% of the carriers treated had at least one mild adverse reaction. Rates of the common reactions were 41.9% fever, 22.6% headache and 16.1% joint pains.


CONCLUSIONS
A new mass treatment program has been initiated by the national Antifilariasis Campaign using the single dose DEC 6 mg/kg bw regimen. The satisfactory reduction in mf density at 6 and 12 months following DEC single dose treatment we observed provides support for this program.
Weerasooriya
M V
MV
Filariasis Research Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ruhuna, Galle, Sri Lanka.
Kimura
E
E
Dayaratna
D A
DA
Weerasooriya
T R
TR
Samarawickrema
W A
WA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002353:Carrier State / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002648:Child; D004049:Diethylcarbamazine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004605:Elephantiasis, Filarial / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005369:Filaricides / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014958:Wuchereria bancrofti / Q000187:drug effects*
D005369:Filaricides; D004049:Diethylcarbamazine