Oxantel-pyrantel in various regimens for the treatment of soil transmitted helminthiasis in rural and urban communities.

204 individuals from a rural community were given a single dose of oxantel-pyrantel at 15mg/kg bodyweight and if still infected, 20mg/kg bodyweight, with cure rates of 100%, 53% and 71% for ascariasis, trichuriasis and hookworm infection, respectively. From an urban community, 124 patients were given the same drug either as 15mg/kg bodyweight given twice in one day, with an interval of about 12 hours, or 20mg/kg bodyweight given daily for 2 days. Cure rates obtained were 100% in both groups for ascariasis; 89.2% of those given the first regimen were cured of trichuriasis compared with 71.2% of those on the second. For trichuriasis, oxantel-pyrantel given twice, 12 hours apart, appears to be the best treatment schedule and further clinical trials using this regimen are suggested.