Efficacy of a single dose of mebendazole on prevalence and intensity of soil-transmitted nematodes in Zanzibar.

Abstract

The efficacy of a single-dose of mebendazole to treat intestinal helminths was studied in Pemba Island, Zanzibar, with the view of incorporating it in future control programmes. A single Kato-Katz stool examination was performed on 2,269 individuals from all age groups. 1,883 individuals were treated with 500 mg of mebendazole (250 mg for children below two years) and re-examined one month and four months after therapy. A total of 466 presented themselves for all three surveys and the data has been reported in this study. The overall cure rate for ascariasis was 93.2% and reduction of egg load after treatment was 89.8% in persistent positive cases. Although the cure rates were lower in trichuriasis (25.6%) and hookworm (17.8%) infections, egg reduction was more evident with 47% for Trichuris trichiura and 51.9% for hookworms. A single dose of mebendazole results not only in a high cure rate for ascariasis but also in a decrease in intensity of ascariasis, trichuriasis and hookworm infections, thereby contributing to its incorporation into low-budget control programmes in developing countries.

• Authors: M Albonico, E Renganathan, A Bosman, U M Kisumku, K S Alawi, L Savioli
• Journal: Tropical and geographical medicine (Trop Geogr Med) Vol. 46 Issue 3 Pg. 142-6 ( 1994) ISSN: 0041-3232 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 7941002 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Mebendazole

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Ascariasis (epidemiology, parasitology, prevention & control)
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Hookworm Infections (epidemiology, parasitology, prevention & control)
• Humans
• Infant
• Infant, Newborn
• Mebendazole (therapeutic use)
• Prevalence
• Tanzania (epidemiology)
• Treatment Outcome
• Trichuriasis (epidemiology, parasitology, prevention & control)