Anthelmintic efficacy of methyl-5-benzoylbenzimidazole-2-carbamate(Mebendazole) against multiple helminthic infections

A clinical trial of Korean Patent mebendazole was undertaken upon some intestinal helminthic infections in 288 rural Koreans residing in Pochun and Jinyang Gun, from November to December, 1976. They were examined by the cellophane thick smear technique, Stoll's egg counting technique and/or Scotch-tape anal swab before and 3 weeks after the treatment. The administered dose of mebendazole was 600 mg, divided by 100 mg, twice daily for 3 consecutive days disregarding the body weight and the age of the cases. It was confirmed that mebendazole is very effective, broad-spectrum anthelmintic, especially against Ascaris, Ancylostoma, Trichostrongylus and Enterobius infections. Their negative conversion rate and egg reduction rate were respectively; 94.0 and 99.6 per cent in Ascaris, 71.4 and 97.3 per cent in Ancylostoma and 95.0 and 100 per cent in Trichostrongylus. The negative conversion rate in Enterobius was 92.3 per cent. The anthelmintic efficacy against T. trichiura infection was not satisfactory in spite of low worm burden (negative conversion rate, 27.3%, egg reduction rate, 65.5%).