Studies on paragonimiasis: treatment with mebendazole, emetine with mebendazole and praziquantel.

One hundred cases of paragonimiasis from Saraburi province, Thailand were studied with respect to epidemiology, clinical manifestations, radiography and treatment. Highly endemic areas were Cha-om and Sum-pugpaew villages in Kang-koy district. The ratio of male to female was 48:52. Uncooked crabs and shrimps are the second intermediate hosts of Paragonimus. Hemoptysis and chronic cough were the main symptoms; with crepitations and rhonchi in both lungs. There was no specific changes in chest X-rays of the lungs, except in cases of hemoptysis where changes in pulmonary vessels were observed. Tomograms of the lungs provided 100% accuracy and confirmation of diagnosis of pulmonary paragonimiasis. Praziquantel 25 my/kg body weight three times a day for 2 days gave a cure rate of 90%, mebendazole plus emetine hydrochloride gave a cure rate of 70% and mebendazole alone was not effective.

Treatment of Plasmodium falciparum malaria with a combination of amodiaquine and tetracycline in Central Thailand.

A combination of the drugs amodiaquine and tetracycline was used in a clinical trial at Phrabuddhabat Hospital in Central Thailand for treating Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Of the 51 patients who completed the 28-day follow-up, 49 (96%) were cured; in two cases the parasitaemia was cleared within seven days of initial therapy but returned within 28 days (RI response). Only one patient experienced a mild and transient side effect of nausea. The treatment regimen was cheap and the drugs are readily available commercially. Results of this study suggest that amodiaquine-tetracycline combination offers a practical, safe and highly effective method for treating uncomplicated falciparum malaria.