A comparative study of the effect of oxantel-pyrantel suspension and mebendazole in mixed infections with Ascaris and Trichuris.

A comparative trial was carried out in 4 orphanges in Seoul, to compare the anthelminthic efficacy of oxantel-pyrantel suspension and mebendazole tablets against mixed infections of Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura. 40 patients were divided into 4 groups and received oxantel-pyrantel suspension at 15 or 20mg/kg once only or on 2 consecutive days. Another group of 20 patients was treated with 100mg of mebendazole twice a day for 3 days. Both drugs achieved a 100% cure rate for Ascaris infections. Against Trichuris infections, the average cure rate and egg reduction rate of oxantel-pyrantel treated groups was 87.5% and 92.3% respectively, and that for mebendazole was 65% and 89.1%. There were no side-effects. The results of the present study suggest that oxantel-pyrantel is more effective in the treatment of mixed infections of Ascaris and Trichuris, and was more acceptable to the patients, than mebendazole.