Papua New Guinean schoolchildren in the highlands were randomly assigned to treatment groups in order to verify the effectiveness of mebendazole (Nordia) and compare it with mebendazole (Janssen) in both extended and single-dose therapy in a double-blind controlled study. Only the Janssen product given twice daily for three days was of value in 'curing' hookworm. Single-dose treatment with the same product was highly effective in treating roundworm but not hookworm or whipworm. Observations suggest that drug particle size may be an important determinant of efficacy against hookworm. Based on this study, the use of the Janssen formulation of mebendazole would be preferable.
Adolescent ; Child ; Double-Blind Method ; Helminthiasis - drug therapy ; Hookworm Infections - drug therapy ; Humans ; Mebendazole - pharmacology ; Papua New Guinea