The broad-spectrum of activity and safety of
mebendazole remain, after 5 years of clinical experience, unique features of this
anthelmintic. Through microtubular destruction,
mebendazole kills helminths by inhibiting
glucose uptake into susceptible parasites. The
drug's poor absorption does not appear to affect clinical efficacy except, perhaps, in the treatment of systemic helminth
infections.
Mebendazole is generally considered the
drug of choice for
trichuriasis and has therapeutic advantages over other
anthelmintics in the treatment of
enterobiasis and
hookworm infections. Although
mebendazole is an effective agent against
ascariasis, there are preferable alternatives. Among its nonapproved uses,
mebendazole shows great promise in the treatment of
capillariasis and
hydatid disease. Further investigation is needed to establish its role in the treatment of
taeniasis, Hymenolepsis nana,
strongyloidiasis,
trichinosis, and Dipetalonema perstans. Undoubtedly,
mebendazole will find its greatest value in the treatment of patients with multiple helminth
infections.