Comparison of Albendazole and Mebendazole on Soil-Transmitted Helminth Infections among School-Aged Children

Nirmalia Husin; Ayodhia Pitaloka Pasaribu; Muhammad Ali; Erwin Suteno; Erwin Suteno; Wilhans Wijaya; Syahril Pasaribu

doi:10.3889/oamjms.2022.8588

Authors

Nirmalia Husin Department of Child Health, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8084-9431
Ayodhia Pitaloka Pasaribu Department of Child Health
Muhammad Ali Department of Child Health, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan, Indonesia
Erwin Suteno Department of Child Health, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan, Indonesia
Erwin Suteno Department of Child Health, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan, Indonesia
Wilhans Wijaya Department of Child Health, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan, Indonesia
Syahril Pasaribu Department of Child Health, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3889/oamjms.2022.8588

Keywords:

Efficacy, Soil-transmitted helminths, Albendazole, Mebendazole

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Anthelmintics, such as albendazole and mebendazole, are widely used to treat soil-transmitted helminths (STHs). With its extensive usage and administration along with other medical prescriptions, different environmental conditions, etc., some studies have reported unsatisfactory efficacy from albendazole to treat STHs.

AIM: To observe the efficacy of albendazole and mebendazole as a single dose in treating STH infections in elementary school children.

METHODS: An open randomized clinical trial was conducted in Batubara, North Sumatra, comparing the efficacy of albendazole and mebendazole. Samples were 6−12-year-old children infected with STHs based on Kato-Katz examination. A Chi-square test was performed to compare the cure rate and a t-test was done to compare the number of eggs per gram (EPG) feces in both groups.

RESULT: A total of 199 children from 426 met the study criteria. There was a significant difference (p < 0.05) in the cure rate of Ascaris lumbricoides infections at 87.5% and 31% for albendazole and mebendazole groups, respectively. The cure rate of Trichuris trichiura infection at 61.5% and 65.6% with albendazole and mebendazole, respectively, and there was no significant difference (p > 0.05). There was a significant reduction in the number of eggs of all STHs after the treatment either with albendazole or mebendazole.

CONCLUSION: Single-dose albendazole has better efficacy against Ascaris lumbricoides infection than mebendazole. Meanwhile, both albendazole and mebendazole have high efficacy in reducing the number of eggs.

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