Mebendazole was tested for its efficacy in individual treatment and mass control of Trichuris trichiura infection in Korea. The results were as follows: The efficacy of mebendazole in 430 cases 3 weeks after treatment with mebendazole(100-1,200 mg) was not so satisfactory (15.0-64.0 and 24.6-95.2% in cure and egg reduction rates respectively). But it was observed that the higher the total dose of the drug the better the efficacy. The egg positive rate of the inhabitants in mass control programme by 600 mg mebendazole decreased form 40.0 to 5.6 % during one year, May 1982-May 1983, by repeated blanket mass chemotherapy every 3 months (in conventional regimen), while the decrease was less marked or unrecognizable in 3-month (signle or two divided doses), 6-month, 12-month interval and placebo control groups. From the results, it was concluded that, although mebendazole was not highly effective in individual treatment of T. trichiura infection, it was fairly useful in mass cotrol, by repeated mass chemotherapy every 3 months.
parasitology-helmith-nematoda ; trichuriasis ; Trichuris trichiura ; chemotherapy-mebendazole ; mebendazol

The present clinical trial was conducted to determine the efficacy and tolerance of oxantel(CP-14, 445), one of pyrimidine derivative, in the treatment of Trichocephalus trichiurus infection. One hundred eighty two cases who harboured T. trichiurus were treated with oxantel in a single dose of 10 to 25 mg/kg of body weight. For the evaluation, the negative conversion rate and egg reduction rate were calculated before and 22 days after the treatment. The results obtained were as follows: The prevalence rate of T. trichiurus infection in present study was 64.2% by examining 1,536 fecal specimens collected. The overall negative conversion rate was 66.5%, while the highest rate(93.3%) was obtained in the group treated with 20 mg/kg of oxantel (Group III). The lowest rate(56.6%) was observed in Group I (10 mg/kg). The overall egg reduction rate on present study was 90.3%. The highest rate, 100% of egg reduction was also obtained in Group III (20 mg/kg). From the observation of 1,244 expelled worms, it was known that 45.0% of collected worms were expelled on the first of post-treatment day, and male and female worms were about the same in number(1.03 : 1). Average worm burden per capita was 11.1 in this observation. The medication was readily accepted and tolerated by all the treated cases. On the hemograms, urinalysis and liver function tests, no significant differences were noted before and after the drug administration. Side reactions were so mild and transient that none required specific treatment.
parasitology-helminth-nematoda ; Trichocephalus trichiurus ; oxantel ; chemotherapy-trichuriasis ; drug ; hematology ; liver ; urinalysis ; side reaction