EFFICACY OF A SINGLE-DOSE OF MEBENDAZOLE ON PREVALENCE AND INTENSITY OF SOIL-TRANSMITTED NEMATODES IN ZANZIBAR

The efficacy of a single dose of mebendazole to treat intestinal helmi nths was studied in Pemba Island, Zanzibar, with the view of incorpora ting it in future control programmes. A single Kato Katz stool examina tion was performed on 2,269 individuals from all age groups, 1,883 ind ividuals were treated with 500 mg of mebendazole (250 mg for children below two years) and re-examined one month and four months after thera py A total of 466 presented themselves for all three surveys and the d ata has been reported in this study. The overall cure rate for ascaria sis was 93.2% and reduction of egg load after treatment was 89.8% in p ersistent positive cases, Although the cure rates were lower in trichu riasis (25.6%) and hookworm (17.8%) infections, egg reduction was more evident with 47% for Trichuris trichiura and 51.9% for hookworms. A s ingle dose of mebendazole results not only in a high cure rate for asc ariasis but also in a decrease in intensity of ascariasis, trichuriasi s and hookworm infections, thereby contributing to its incorporation i nto low-budget control programmes in developing countries.