First-line agents— The mainstays of treatment for ascariasis are the benzimidazoles, albendazole (400 mg orally once) andmebendazole(100 mg twice daily for three days or 500 mg as a single dose) [ 47! " single dose of albendazole is effecti#e in almost 100 $ercent of cases [ 4%,4&! 'f other intestinal helminth infections (ie, hooworm, trichris) may be $resent, a three*day corse of albendazole is efficacios for treatment of concomitant infections [50,51 ! +oth the three*day mebendazole regimen and the single*dose mebendazole regimen are a$$roimately &5 $ercent effecti#e [5-,5. ! " meta*analy sis inclding -0 randomized trials demonstrated high cre rates with single doses of albendazole and mebendazole [50! /imilar reslts and good tolerability ha#e been described in other stdies [5-,54*5! "d#erse effects of the benzimidazoles inclde transient gastrointestinal (') discomfort, headache, and, rarely, leo$ enia! 2or treatment of $regnant women, $yrantel $amoate shold be sed, gi#en $ossible teratogenic effects de to the benzimidazoles [50! 3yrantel $amoate (11 mgg $ to a maimm of 1 g) is administered as a single dose! The efficacy #aries with worm loadsingle*dose thera$y is a$$roimately &0 $ercent effecti#e in eradicating adlt worms [. ! "d#erse effects inclde gastrointestinal distrbances, h eadaches, rash, and fe#er!
First-line agentsThe mainstays of treatment for ascariasis are
the benzimidazoles,albendazole(400 mg orally once)
andmebendazole(100 mg twice daily for three days or 500 mg as a
single dose) [47]. A single dose of albendazole is effective in
almost 100 percent of cases [48,49]. If other intestinal helminth
infections (ie, hookworm, trichuris) may be present, a three-day
course of albendazole is efficacious for treatment of concomitant
infections [50,51].Both the three-daymebendazoleregimen and the
single-dose mebendazole regimen are approximately 95 percent
effective [52,53]. A meta-analysis including 20 randomized trials
demonstrated high cure rates with single doses ofalbendazoleand
mebendazole [50]. Similar results and good tolerability have been
described in other studies [52,54-56]. Adverse effects of the
benzimidazoles include transient gastrointestinal (GI) discomfort,
headache, and, rarely, leukopenia.For treatment of pregnant
women,pyrantel pamoateshould be used, given possible teratogenic
effects due to the benzimidazoles [50]. Pyrantel pamoate (11mg/kgup
to a maximum of 1 g) is administered as a single dose. The efficacy
varies with worm load; single-dose therapy is approximately 90
percent effective in eradicating adult worms [3]. Adverse effects
include gastrointestinal disturbances, headaches, rash, and
fever.
