Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Antiparasitic Drugs for Trichinosis Myositis

There is no consensus on the benefits of treatment with any specific anthelminthic compound on muscle-stage trichinosis. A double-blind, placebo-controlled comparison was done of 3 antiparasitic drugs during an outbreak of trichinosis in Chiangrai Province, northern Thailand. Forty-six adults were randomized to receive 10 days of oral treatment with mebendazole (200 mg twice a day), thiabendazole (25 mg/kg twice a day), fluconazole (400 mg initially, then 200 mg daily), or placebo. All patients received treatment to eradicate adult intestinal worms. Trichinella spiralis infection was proved parasitologically in 19 (41%) of 46 patient and by serodiagnosis in all cases. Significantly more patients improved after treatment with mebendazole (12/12) and thiabendazole (7/7) than after treatment with placebo (6/12; P< .05) or fluconazole (6/12). Muscle tenderness resolved in more patients treated with thiabendazole and mebendazole than in those treated with placebo (P<.05). However, 30% of volunteers could not tolerate the side effects of thiabendazole. In summary, Trichinella myositis responds to thiabendazole and to mebendazole.