Rate of expulsion of Trichuris trichiura with multiple and single dose regimens of albendazole

The efficacy of multiple and single dose regimens of albendazole on Trichuris trichiura infection was evaluated by counting the number of worms expelled/day from two pair-matched groups of children, for nine days following therapy. The temporal patterns of worm expulsion were similar whether the children received a single 400 mg dose or two consecutive doses: no worms were passed before the second day, or after the sixth day, after intervention, and the maximum worm expulsion rate was attained on the fourth day. A second treatment six days after the first expelled no more worms. The results obtained here resemble those obtained previously with a three-day (600 mg) regimen of mebendazole in a study of heavily infected children. We conclude: that irrespective of dose, benzimidazole carbamates require the gut transit time plus 48 hours to immobilize T. trichiura; and that a single dose of albendazole is effective against light infections of T. trichiura but requires further evaluation with high intensity infections.