Evaluation of hookworm control program in southern Thailand.

An intensive hookworm control program providing the rural population of southern Thailand with mass treatment with 300 mg Mebendazole and health education commenced in 1989 with a yearly budget of over US$ 1.2 million. The current research aimed to evaluate the coverage of health education and mass treatment, the effectiveness of mass treatment and the administrative process of the control program, two years after its commencement. This evaluation consisted of three studies. In the first study, 120 villages were randomly selected, from which 840 school children, 843 adults aged between 15-59 and 844 subjects aged over 60 years were interviewed to assess awareness of hookworm, latrine availability, receipt of and compliance with antihelminthics provided, and self-treatment. In the second study, 8 villages from each of the 14 provinces were randomly chosen. Stool samples from randomly selected 4,434 subjects were examined. The third study consisted of interviewing key health planners in Bangkok and 71 health officers/workers from 32 samples villages of 8 sampled provinces. Latrine availability was 80%. Percentages of subjects who had ever heard of hookworm ranged from 70 to 95 in school children, 55 to 80 in adults and 25 to 58 in the older age group. While 63 to 85% had latrines in their homes, 27% to 47% admitted defecation outside in the past month. Percentages of coverage of drug treatment ranged from 82 to 91 in school children, 68 to 80 in adults and 54 to 59 in the older age group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

A comparative study on the efficacy of albendazole and mebendazole in the treatment of ascariasis, hookworm infection and trichuriasis.

A comparative study of the efficacy of albendazole and mebendazole was carried out in Pattani Province in the southern part of Thailand. One hundred and ninety-six patients with single or multiple infections with Ascaris, hookworm, and Trichuris were randomized into 4 groups for different treatments. Stool examination by Kato-Katz technique were done before and on day 14 after treatment. Results of the study showed that (1) a single dose of 300 mg mebendazole (locally produced) resulted in cure rates of 50%, 0% and 0% and egg reduction rates of 87.3%, -15.3%, and 28.3%, for ascariasis, hookworm infection and Trichuris respectively; (2) a single dose of 300 mg mebendazole (original) resulted in cure rates of 100.0%, 9.1%, and 43.3%, and egg reduction rates of 100.0%, 72.0%, and 77.9%, for Ascaris, hookworm, and Trichuris respectively; (3) a single dose 500 mg mebendazole (original) resulted in cure rates of 100.0%, 30.2%, and 70.3%, and egg reduction rates of 100.0%, 70.4% and 89.9%, for Ascaris, hookworm, and Trichuris respectively and (4) a single dose of 400 mg albendazole (original) resulted in cure rates of 100.0%, 84.3%, and 67.4%, and egg reduction rates of 100.0%, 96.0% and 87.0%, for Ascaris, hookworm, and Trichuris respectively. Both mebendazole and albendazole are safe and no side effects were observed. The results of this study suggested that albendazole is the preferred benzimidazole derivative for mass treatment of multiple infections with Ascaris, hookworm, and Trichuris.