Treatment of Echinococcus granulosus hydatid disease with mebendazole

The Authors report their personal experience in the treatment of 70 patients with hydatid cysts of different localization with mebendazole, following protocols approved by WHO. During treatment patients were submitted to careful clinical, biochemical, radiological and immunological controls. On the whole, 150 hydatid cysts and 13 cases of widespread hydatidosis were observed. Follow-up ranged from 6 months to 5 years. Morphological and/or volumetric modifications were observed in 64.3% of the total number of cysts treated, regardless of their localization. 9 relapses were observed, and all but one case showed the same previous sensitivity to a further cycle of mebendazole. The observed side effects were not severe.