Triclabendazole in treatment of human fascioliasis

ABSTRACT

Recent outbreaks of human fascioliasis had been reported in Alexandria and Behira provinces. The presentation of Fasciola species infection in man varies with the age of the patient and with the stage of the disease. Many drugs have been tried in human fascioliasis but still the drug of choice remains to be determined. Triclabendazole is a novel antihelminth that affects both immature and mature stages of Fasciola infection. Previous preliminary studies showed that the drug has a promising value in treatment of human fascioliasis. The present study was carried out on 54 patients with fascioliasis, 26 of them were incubating patients and 28 with established fascioliasis. Regarding the age, 37 were children and 17 were adult patients. Patients were assessed clinically and by laboratory investigations. They were treated with triclabendazole suspension 10% solution in a dose of 20 mg/kg body weight on fasting stomach. The study revealed that the drug is finely tolerated safe and effective. Acute or incubating fascioliasis in children is more preferably treated by two doses [second dose raised cure rate from 37 to 83%]. Adults require a single dose whatever the stage of the disease [cure rate of the single dose was 78-90%]