Comparative efficacy of albendazole and three brands of mebendazole in the treatment of ascariasis and trichuriasis.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the comparative efficacy of 400 mg albendazole (Smith Kline Beecham) as a single dose and three brands of mebendazole (Janssen, Unibios and East African Pharmaceuticals) at doses of 100 mg twice a day for three consecutive days in the treatment of single or mixed infections with Ascaris lumbricoides and or Trichuris trichiura in four treatment groups of school children.


METHODS
Randomized trial.


METHODS
Wondo-Genet, southern Ethiopia.


METHODS
School children, aged six to nineteen years.


RESULTS
The percentage cure rate and egg reduction rate obtained with albendazole and mebendazole from the three brands were not significantly different in the treatment of ascariasis. However, significant differences were found among the percentage cure rates and egg reduction rates of the four treatment groups in the treatment of trichuriasis. Comparatively, high cure rate (89.8%) and egg reduction rate (99.1%) were observed in vermox (Janssen) treated group followed by Unibios (India) treated group (53.3% and 96.53% cure and egg reduction rates, respectively), whereas low cure rate (17.1%) and egg reduction rate (69.8%) were seen in the albendazole treated group.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study suggest that in areas of single or mixed infections with Trichuris trichiura and/or Ascaris lumbricoides are common public health problems and where laboratory facilities are not available to make parasite identification, mebendazole (particularly vermox, a product of Janssen laboratory) would be the drug of choice to treat trichuriasis and ascariasis. However, either mebendazole from the different brands or albendazole is effective in the treatment of ascariasis in areas where trichuriasis is not prevalent.
Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
M
M
Legesse
B
B
Erko
G
G
Medhin
D000293:Adolescent; D015766:Albendazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D000969:Antinematodal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001196:Ascariasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology; D017164:Ascaris lumbricoides / Q000187:drug effects; D002648:Child; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008463:Mebendazole / Q000145:classification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010270:Parasite Egg Count; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014257:Trichuriasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology; D014258:Trichuris / Q000187:drug effects
D000969:Antinematodal Agents; D008463:Mebendazole; D015766:Albendazole