Thiabendazole in hookworm infection

Abstract

Thiabendazole was administered orally to 100 patients infected with hookworms. 60% harboured A. duodenale and 40% N. americanus. The mean ova count per gramme of faeces was 7178 ± 5166. 5 dosage schedules were tried, and therapeutic efficiency was assessed by finding out the percentage reduction in egg count. With 100 mg. per kg. as a single dose and 50 mg. per kg. daily for 3 consecutive days there was complete eradication of hookworm ova in 95% of the cases, but drug reactions such as severe dizziness, nausea and vomiting occurred in most cases. With doses of 50 mg. per kg. as a single dose and 25 mg. per kg. twice a day on 2 consecutive days there was complete reduction of ova in 30% of cases, and the side effects were less frequent. The best results were obtained with 25 mg. per kg. daily for 3 consecutive days, where 75% of cases showed complete disappearance of eggs and the mean reduction was 92·3%. The side effects were negligible with this dosage schedule.