Efficacy of mebendazole and levamisole, alone or in combination, for soil-transmitted helminthiasis

  • Ifo Faujiah Sihite Department of Child Health, University of North Sumatera Medical School/ H. Adam Malik Hospital.
  • Muhammad Ali Department of Child Health, University of North Sumatera Medical School/ H. Adam Malik Hospital.
  • Ayodhia P. Pasaribu Department of Child Health, University of North Sumatera Medical School/ H. Adam Malik Hospital.
  • Syahril Pasaribu Department of Child Health, University of North Sumatera Medical School/ H. Adam Malik Hospital.
  • Chairuddin P. Lubis Department of Child Health, University of North Sumatera Medical School/ H. Adam Malik Hospital.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.14238/pi54.1.2014.9-14
Keywords: soil-transmitted hel minth, mebendazole, levamisole, combination

Abstract

Background

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends four, single-dose drugs (albendazole, levamisole, mebendazole, and pyrantel pamoate) for management of soil­transmitted helminthiasis (STH). Previous studies have shown varied and inconsistent outcomes of these STH treatments.

Objective

To compare the efficacy of mebendazole and levami­sole, alone or in combination, for the treatment of STH.

Methods

An open randomized controlled trial was conducted in Secanggang, North Sumatera from August to October 2009. School-aged children with STH infection were randomized into three groups. Group I received a single dose of mebendazole (500 mg); group II received a single dose of levamisole (2.5 mg/kg); and group III received a single dose of mebendazole-levamisole combined. Stool samples were collected at baseline, and the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th weeks after treatment and examined by the Kato-Katz technique. Statistical analyses were Kruskal-Wallis test for cure rate and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) test for egg reduction rate.

Results

STH was diagnosed in 197 children with the following parasite species: Ascariasis (96 children, 48.7%), Trichuriasis (58 children, 29.4%), and mixed infection (43 children, 21.8%). We found no hookworm infection in any of our subjects. Groups I and III had significantly higher efficacy (P=0.0001) against STH (egg reduction rate 99.3% and 99.9%; cure rate 92.2% and 98.4%, respectively) at 4th week of treatment.


Conclusion

A single dose of mebendazole alone and combined with levamisole have better efficacy compared to a single dose of levamisole for the treatment of STH. The highest efficacy of these treatments is noted at the 4th week after drug administration

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Published
2014-02-28
How to Cite
1.
Sihite I, Ali M, Pasaribu A, Pasaribu S, Lubis C. Efficacy of mebendazole and levamisole, alone or in combination, for soil-transmitted helminthiasis. PI [Internet]. 28Feb.2014 [cited 23Dec.2024];54(1):9-4. Available from: https://paediatricaindonesiana.org/index.php/paediatrica-indonesiana/article/view/161
Issue
Vol 54 No 1 (2014): January 2014
Section
Articles

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Received 2016-08-15
Accepted 2016-08-15
Published 2014-02-28