Benzimidazoles in the treatment of trichuriasis: a review

Treatment of severe symptomatic trichuriasis observed with heavy worm burdens is not satisfactory with recommended doses of mebendazole, flubendazole and albendazole. Higher doses of anthelmintics for longer periods of treatment generally improve the cure rates but treatment of such associated symptoms as diarrhoea is recommended before starting anthelmintic therapy. Such severe cases of trichuriasis should be considered separately; they do not represent the majority of cases infected by this parasite, which usually respond to benzimidazoles.