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Albendazole in the treatment of goehelminth infections in children
Insights
A single dose of albendendazole effectively cured ascariasis in children. Multiple doses improved Trichuriasis treatment outcomes, especially in moderate to heavy infections.
Area of Science:
- Medical Research
- Parasitology
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Helminthic infections are prevalent in children living in impoverished areas.
- Mixed infections with Trichuris trichiura, Ascaris lumbricoides, and Necator americanus are common.
- Albendazole is a widely used anthelmintic drug.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of two albendazole treatment regimens in children with mixed helminthic infections.
- To compare cure rates and egg reduction for different helminth species and infection severities.
- To determine optimal albendazole dosing for pediatric helminthiasis.
Main Methods:
- A study involving children aged 2-14 years with mixed helminthic infections from a slum area.
- Two treatment groups: single 400 mg albendazole dose and multiple 200 mg daily doses for 3 days.
- Assessment of cure rates and egg reduction for Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, and Necator americanus.
Main Results:
- Single-dose albendazole achieved 100% cure rate for ascariasis regardless of infection severity.
- For Trichuriasis, single-dose cure rates were 50% (mild) with reduced efficacy in moderate/heavy infections.
- Multiple-dose albendazole showed higher cure rates for Trichuriasis (82% mild, 66% moderate, 37% heavy) and 98% egg reduction.
Conclusions:
- Single-dose albendazole is highly effective for ascariasis in children.
- Multiple-dose albendazole offers improved treatment outcomes for Trichuriasis, particularly in moderate to heavy infections.
- Albendazole dosing strategies should be tailored to specific helminth species and infection intensity for optimal pediatric treatment.
Abstract:
Children with mixed helminthic infections between the ages of 2 and 14 years, from a slum area, were treated with two regimes of albendazole. A majority of children had moderate to heavy infections with Trichuris trichiura (greater than 70%) and Ascaris lumbricoides (greater than 84%). Children treated with a single 400 mg dose of albendazole showed a very good response in ascariasis with 100% cure rate irrespective of the severity of infection. In Trichuriasis (n = 40), a cure rate of 50% was observed in mild infections, but only a reduction in the egg counts of 60% and 57% respectively were observed in moderate and heavy infections. Only 10 patients with Necator americanus infections were treated with the single dose, and the cure rate in mild infections was satisfactory (86%), with an overall egg reduction rate of 95%. In 47 children included in the multiple dose regime (200 mg daily x 3 days), the cure rates in trichuriasis were, 82%, 66%, and 37% respectively in mild, moderate, and heavy infections. The egg reduction rate was 98% in all degrees of infection in trichuriasis. The cure rate in ascariasis, with the multiple dose regime was similar to that of the single dose, with 100% egg reduction, irrespective of the severity of infection.