A clinical evaluation of the efficacy of mebendazole in the treatment of trichuriasis.

In a single-blind clinical study of mebendazole, a new, broadspectrum anthelmintic, 70 patients with light to severe infections of Trichuris trichiura were treated. Ten subjects received placebos, and 60 received 100 mg mebendazole twice a day for three and four days. The drug was well tolerated by the patients, and no toxic side effects were observed. Egg count comparisons using the McMaster method on feces collected before and one month after treatment indicated a cure rate for trichuriasis of 65.6% and 89.3% and a total egg reduction of 69.5% and 95.9% for three- and four-day regimens, respectively. Patients not cleared showed an egg reduction rate of 31.6% and 76.8% on the three- and four-day regimens, respectively.