Attempts to modify treatment of intestinal capillariasis.

Attempts to reduce the standard treatment of intestinal capillariasis of 200 mg mebendazole twice daily for 20 days were not successful. Two of 13 patients given mebendazole at single daily dosages of 500 mg per day for 16 days relapsed 3 to 6 months after treatment. Attempts to reduce the treatment to 14 days were even less satisfactory in that 4 of 8 patients treated experienced relapses 2 to 9 months later. Since intestinal capillariasis can be fatal it is recommended to continue the use of the standard schedule of 400 mg mebendazole daily for 20 days for new cases and 30 days for relapsed cases until a more effective drug is available.