Comparison between albendazole and pyrantel pamoate once and twice yearly in urban slum school children in Ujung Pandang

This sndy examined the comparison between pyrantel and albendazole, in terms of their effectiveness by once and nvice yearly in school-age children. School children (n=507)were assigned randomly tofour anthehninthic groups (pyrantel once or tvvice; albendazole once or twice) and a placebo group, according to gender and Ascaris lumbicoides egBS counts. Chillren received singlc doses of either pyrantel, albendazole, or placebo at baseline and again at 6 mo. The prevalence and intensity of Ascaris lumbicoides and Trichuris trichiura infections were determined at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 mo. No dffirences were found between the five groups at baseline in prevalence and intensity ofbothinfections. At 12 mo, the intensity ofbothinfectionswas greatly reducedin the dewormed groups (P < 0.001) andreduced slightly in the control group (P < 0.05). Bothpyrantel andalbendazole fwice reduced the prevalence and intensity ofA. lumbricoides greater than other groups. However, albendazolelreatedchildrenreduced the prevalence andintensity ofT. trichiura greater than other groups. This study suggests thot two doses yearly of both drugs are more effective than once dose yearly and albendazole treatment once or tvvice coula decrease the intensity ofT. tichiura infection.