COMPARATIVE EFFICACY OF A SINGLE 400 MG DOSE OF ALBENDAZOLE OR MEBENDAZOLE IN THE TREATMENT OF NEMATODE INFECTIONS IN CHILDREN

The relative efficacy of a single 400 mg dose of albendazole or mebend azole in the treatment of nematode infections was assessed in 2- to 9- Year-old children living in two different Bolivian rural communities. Both agents were equally very effective (100% cure rate) in treating a scariasis. Albendazole was clearly more active than mebendazole agains t hookworm infections, both in terms of egg reduction rate (92.8% vs. 62.4%) and cure rate (81.8% vs. 17.2%). As far as trichuriasis is conc erned, albendazole Produced a higher egg reduction rate than mebendazo le (45.7% vs 15%), but a lower cure rate (33.3% vs 60%). Both drugs we re well tolerated.