ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To test the efficacy of diethylcarbamazine DEC single dose regimen of 6 mg/kg body weight (bw) on a sample of Wuchereria bancrofti microfilaria (mf) carriers in Matara. DESIGN: 6 mg/kg bw DEC dose in 50 mg tablets given under direct observation to the subjects at 23.00 hours after pre-treatment blood collection for mf counts. Post-treatment mf counts were at 1, 2 weeks and 1, 3, 6, 12 months. SUBJECTS: 31 asymptomatic mf carriers, 14 males, age range 6 to 62 years. RESULTS: Treatment resulted in 89 to 97% success rate, 19 to 28% cure rates and 74 to 80% reduction in mf density. There was no difference statistically in the success rate and cure rate at 6 and 12 months. The effect of DEC treatment at 6 and 12 months compared by sex, age group and pre-treatment mf level showed no difference. 64.5% of the carriers treated had at least one mild adverse reaction. Rates of the common reactions were 41.9% fever, 22.6% headache and 16.1% joint pains. CONCLUSION: A new mass treatment program has been initiated by the national Antifilariasis Campaign using the single dose DEC 6 mg/kg bw regimen. The satisfactory reduction in mf density at 6 and 12 months following DEC single dose treatment we observed provides support for this program.