ABSTRACT
Objectives: The study was performed in order compare the antihelminthic efficacy of pineapple fruit versus mebendazole in schoolchildren. Design: The study performed was a single, blinded randomized control trial. Subjects: Ninety subjects aged 5 to 13 years old and positive for soil-transmitted helminthiases were included in the study. Methods: Eligible participants were subjected to Kato-Katz for diagnosis and quantitative ova count. Those positive for soil-transmitted helminthes were randomized to Group A (pineapple) and Group B (mebendazole). After 7 days of treatment, stool samples were subjected to another Kato Katz for quantitative ova analysis. Seven hundred fifty ml of puree made from one pineapple, with approximate weight of 750g, was given in divided amounts within 24 hours (250 ml 3x a day) for group A. Results: Majority (77.78%) were infected with Ascaris lumbricoides. Pineapple exhibited a significant improvement in egg reduction rate (RR) with a p-value of < 0.001 at 95% CI. This showed 83.5 % egg per gram (epg) of feces reduction and a cure rate of 68.9%. Mebendazole also revealed a significant egg reduction with p-value of < 0.001 at 95% CI. It also showed a remarkable egg per gram reduction rate of 92.25% and cure rate of 88.9%. There were no adverse events reported. Conclusion: Mebendazole, as an antihelminthic, is a better choice; but pineapple fruit may be beneficial as it had a high egg reduction rate and an acceptable cure rate.