Treatment of Taenia saginata infection by gastrografin Egyptian children

Taenia saginata infections are difficult to cure completely. Drugs such as niclosimide, aminosidine, atebrine and the introduction of a large volume of hot water with a cathartic through a duodenal tube can be useful in the treatment but does not always lead to expulsion of the tapeworm and can have serious toxic effects on the host. Gastrografin [an inert nontoxic radio-opaque substance] was used to show the number, shape and position of taenia saginata parasite. Unexpectedly, after intraduodenal injection of gastrografin, the parasite was expelled lower with its scolex through the anus. Fifteen children with taenia saginata infection diagnosed by stools examination for ova and visualisation of the motile segments of the parasite, were given gastrografin orally in two successive doses of 100 ml and 200 ml three hours apart. The whole parasite with its scolex was expelled intact through the anus after six hours in ten patients and within twenty-four hours in five cases. No dehydration or other serious adverse effects were observed in any of the cases. Gastrografin proved to be used safely in treatment of taenia saginata infection without complications