The efficacy of single-dose albendazole for the treatment of ascariasis

• Main Authors: Deddy S Putra, W Dalimunthe, M Lubis, S Pasaribu, Chairuddin Lubis
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Indonesian Pediatric Society Publishing House 2016-10-01
• Series: Paediatrica Indonesiana
• Subjects: ascariasis; single-dose albendazole; efficacy
• Online Access: https://paediatricaindonesiana.org/index.php/paediatrica-indonesiana/article/view/816

Objective This study aims to assess the efficacy of single-dose albendazole in treating mild, moderate, and severe ascariasis. Methods Stool specimens were collected from randomly selected elementary school children in Suka village, Sumatera Utara, from March to April 2002. Based on the number of eggs per gram feces (NEPG), samples were categorized as mild (NEPG < 7000), mod- erate (NEPG 7000-35,000), or severe (NEPG > 35,000) ascari- asis. All subjects then received 400 mg albendazole orally. NEPG count was repeated on the 7 th , 14 th , 21 st and 28 th day after treat- ment. The chi-square test was used to compare cure rates be- tween subjects with mild, moderate, and severe ascariasis. The ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis tests were employed to analyze quan- titative data. Results From the 134 specimens collected, we found mild ascari- asis in 57 (42.5%), moderate ascariasis in 57 (42.5%), and severe ascariasis in 20 (15%). There was no significant difference be- tween the three groups in NEPG after treatment (P>0.05). The cure rate and egg reduction rate on day 28 after treatment was 100%. Conclusion A single dose of 400 mg albendazole is effective for the treatment of mild, moderate, and severe ascariasis.