One-week therapy with oral albendazole in hookworm-related cutaneous larva migrans: A retrospective study on 78 patients

Abstract

We evaluated retrospectively the efficacy and tolerability of oral albendazole (400 mg/day for 1 week) in 78 patients with hookworm-related cutaneous larva migrans characterized by multiple and/or extensive lesions. The diagnosis was based on history and the clinical picture. Neither topical or systemic drugs nor physical treatments were used. All patients were followed-up for at least 3 months after the therapy. All patients were cured at the end of the therapy. The disappearance of pruritus was reported after 2–3 days and skin lesions after 5–7 days of therapy. One patient reported nausea and abdominal pain; another patient reported worsening of pruritus: in both cases it was not necessary to stop the therapy. No recurrences were observed during follow-up. One week of therapy with 400 mg/day oral albendazole is very effective (cure rate: 100%) in patients with cutaneous larva migrans characterized by multiple and/or extensive lesions. This therapeutical regimen is not accompanied by the appearance of new and/or more severe side effects.