RANDOMIZED TRIAL OF ALBENDAZOLE AND PYRANTEL IN SYMPTOMLESS TRICHURIASIS IN CHILDREN

Background We aimed to find out whether symptomless infection with Tri churis trichiura is associated with impairment of growth and to assess the effect of a multiple-doses regimen of anthelmintic drugs on the g rowth of children. Methods In a community based trial, 622 Mexican chi ldren were randomly allocated one of three treatment regimens: 3 days of albendazole 400 mg daily (high efficacy); one dose of albendazole 4 00 mg (moderate efficacy); one dose of pyrantel (pyrantel embonate) 11 mg/kg (low efficacy). Growth was monitored for 12 months. Analyses we re by intention to treat. Findings 113 (18%) children were lost to fol low-up-34 from the pyrantel group, 45 from the albendazole 400 mg grou p, and 34 from the albendazole 1200 mg group. Among the 127 children w ith heavy pretreatment infections, albendazole 1200 mg was better than pyrantel in terms of an increase in arm circumference (mean 0.26 cm, p=0.044), Among the 381 children with low pretreatment levels of infec tion, changes in weight (mean difference between groups -0.33 kg, p=0. 036), arm circumference (-0.18 cm, p=0.0095), and thickness of triceps skinfold (-0.41 mm, p=0.0031) were less in children on albendazole 12 00 mg than in those on pyrantel. Interpretation Symptomless trichurias is impairs growth and albendazole or pyrantel may affect growth, indep endently of a therapeutic action on parasites. Possible toxic effects of high-dose albendazole require further investigation.