Efficacy of Single Dose of 500 mg Mebendazole on Geohelminths amongst School Age Children in Bafoussam, Cameroon

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of mebendazole in the treatment of Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and hookworm infections amongst school age children in Bafoussam.

Methodology: In this study, 948 school age children were recruited. Stool samples were collected from all participants before treatment. Twenty-one days later, specimen bottles were redistributed only to positive cases who received treatment. Parasitological analyses were performed using the concentration method of Willis and McMaster techniques. 500 mg mebendazole was administered to those who were positive for one of the above parasites. The prevalence, parasite load, cure rates and egg reduction rates were assessed.

Results: Baseline prevalence of infections and mean parasite loads were 1.69% and 6226.9 EPG (Ascaris lumbricoides), 0.74% and 50EPG (Trichuris trichiura), and 2.85% and 64.81 EPG (Hookworm) respectively. Post treatment control showed a decrease of prevalence and mean parasite load to 0.0% and 0 EPG (A. lumbricoides), 0.63% and 42.86 EPG (T. trichiura), and 0.84% and 14.81 EPG (Hookworm) respectively. Results of the study revealed that a single dose of 500 mg mebendazole resulted in cure rates of 100%, 70.37% and 14.29% and egg reduction rates of 100%, 68.57%, and 63.16%, for ascariasis, hookworm infection and trichuriasis respectively. Mebendazole is safe and no side effect was observed.

Conclusion: The results of this study suggested that mebendazole is mostly effective against Ascaris and hookworm infection but not for Trichuris trichiura.