Albendazole in the treatment of intestinal capillariasis

Albendazole or Zentel a benzimidazole derivative, was used to treat intestinal capillariasis in hospitalized patients seen in Northern Luzon in the Philippines. In initial studies, four patients responded satisfactorily to the drug in dosages of 400 mg/day in divided doses for 20 days. This is the same dosage used for mebendazole, which has been the drug of choice in treating the parasitosis. In further studies, 16 patients with Capillaria philippinensis, were treated with 400 mg/day of the drug for 10 days, and 15 were completely cured. The one treatment failure was found to be passing eggs of the parasite three months later, and was retreated with the standard mebendazole regimen of 400 mg/day for 20 days. Side effects attributed to albendazole were not reported in any of the patients. Albendazole, 400 mg/day in two divided doses, is now the recommended drug of choice in Northern Luzon in the Philippines.