First experience in the treatment of human hydatid disease with mebendazole

The authors report their experience with mebendazole in human hydatid disease. Following a WHO-controlled protocol, 25 patients with hydatidosis were treated with mebendazole, 50 mg/kg/die for 4-8 months. A further 2 patients were treated with mebendazole 30 mg/kg/die for 6 months, outside the WHO protocol. The evaluation of the results was performed by clinical, radiological (X-ray, ultrasounds, computerized tomography) and immunological investigations (monitoring of indirect haemoagglutinating antibodies, specific IgE, lymphocytic blastization, circulating immune complexes, etc.). The results were encouraging and the side-effects were not important; nevertheless, many questions remain to be elucidated.