Efficacy of mebendazole in treatment of selected parasitoses--a retrospective study

The efficacy of mebendazole was evaluated as a result of six-year experience in the treatment of patients of Outpatients Clinic and Clinic of Infectious, Parasitic and Tropical Diseases in Lódź. The treatment covered 6132 subjects infected with: Ascaris lumbricoides, Ancylostoma duodenale, Trichiuris trichiura, Enterobius vermicularis and Echinococcus granulosus. Nematode infections were diagnosed by coproscopic methods whereas echinococcosis with serologic tests and ultrasonographic examination of abdominal cavity. Mebendazole was administered in the dose of 200 mg per day: for 3 days in ascariasis, for 5 days in A. duodenale, T. trichiura and mixed infections. In enterobiosis was applied a pulsation therapy: 200 mg a day for 3 days, a week of break (three subsequent cycles). In echinococcosis the drug was administered in the daily dose of 600 mg for 30 days. Follow-up examinations were carried out 30, 60, 120 and 160 days after the treatment. In the case of ineffectiveness of the first course, the treatment was repeated. The efficacy of the therapy was as follows: ascariasis 97.1%, A. duodenale infection 100%, trichuriasis 92.1%, enterobiosis 93.3 %, mixed infections 95.3%, echinococcosis 77.2%. No side effects were observed.