Epidemiology of Ascariasis and a Comparative Study on the Efficacy of Albendazole and Herbal Medicine

Abstract

        This study was carried out to epidemiology of ascariasis and comparative study of the efficacy of albendazole 400 mg and Herbal medicine A. This study was carried out in Panghinfon Thambol Maechaem District Chiangmai Province in the northern part of Thailand. The stool of 414 case were examined by Kato's thick smear there were helminthiasis 66.67%, ascariasis 44.69%, trichuriasis 32.13%, Hookworm infection 17.39%, taeniasis 2.90%, opisthorchiasis 0.72% and enterobiasis 0.24%. Ascariasis were male 52.97% female 47.03% and age group were all ages group but mostly in 30-44 years 54.95%, 60 years and up 48.39%, 0-14 years 46.21%, 45-59 years and 15-29 years 36.54%. Eighty percent were low education, elementary education 16.76% and mathayomsuksa 3.25%. Ocupation were agricultural 61.62%, employee 20.54% children and student 17.84%. Sixty-four and fifty-eight patients with ascaris were randomized into 2 groups for different treatment. Stool examination by Kato's thick smear technique were done before and day 14 after treatment. Results of the study showed that (1) a single dose of 400 mg albendazole resulted in cure rates of 82.81% (2) a single dose of Herbal medicine A results in cure rates of 27.59% for ascariasis. Albendazole 400 mg are safe and no side effects were observed and the Herbal medicine A had side effects were observed, abdominal pain diarrhea, nausea. The results of this study suggested that albendazole 400 mg is the preferred benzimidazole derivative for mass treatment of multiple infections with ascaris infection.