Treatment of cutaneous gnathostomiasis with ivermectin.

Author(s): Kraivichian K, Nuchprayoon S, Sitichalernchai P, Chaicumpa W, Yentakam S

Affiliation(s): Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand. fmedstt@md2.md.chula.ac.th

Publication date & source: 2004-11, Am J Trop Med Hyg., 71(5):623-8.

Publication type: Clinical Trial; Randomized Controlled Trial

In a randomized open study, we compared the efficacy of a single dose of oral ivermectin (200 microg/kg) and oral albendazole (400 mg/day for 21 days) for the treatment of cutaneous gnathostomiasis. Thirty-one patients were randomly assigned to receive ivermectin (n = 17) or albendazole (n = 14). Thirteen of 17 patients who received ivermectin responded, 3 relapsed, and 1 was unresponsive (cure rate = 76%). Thirteen of 14 patients who received albendazole responded very well and did not relapse. Only one patient was unresponsive (cure rate = 92%; P > 0.05). No major side effects were observed in both groups. We concluded that a single dose of ivermectin (200 microg/kg) is less effective than albendazole (400 mg/day for 21 days) for treatment of cutaneous gnathostomiasis, but there was no statistically significant difference (P > 0.05).