Effectiveness of albendazole treatment for toxocariasis in children: A cross-sectional study in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of albendazole in pediatric toxocariasis.

Methods: This interventional study was conducted over a 6-month period, enrolling 117 children aged 3-15 years between 2023 and 2024 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. All patients received oral albendazole at a dosage of 15 mg/kg/day, divided into two daily doses, for five consecutive days. Treatment efficacy was assessed at 6 months based on the following criteria: (1) resolution or marked improvement of clinical symptoms; (2) negative ELISA serology; (3) normalization or significant reduction of eosinophil (EOS) counts to within the normal range; and (4) normalization or significant reduction of total IgE levels.

Results: After six months, significant reductions were observed in white blood cell (WBC) count, neutrophil (NEU) count, mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), platelet (PLT) count, EOS count, ELISA optical density (OD), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and creatinine levels (all P<0.05). Age-stratified analysis revealed that children aged 3-11 years showed statistically significant improvements in OD levels and EOS counts compared to baseline (P<0.05). The overall treatment recovery rate was 28%.

Conclusions: The cure rate for pediatric toxocariasis following a five-day albendazole regimen remains modest. Further research is required to optimize treatment durations and regimens to improve clinical outcomes in children.

Keywords

Toxocariasis / Albendazole / Treatment effectiveness / Eosinophil count / Pediatric

Conflict of interest statement

There are no conflicts of interest to declare.

Funding

The authors received no extramural funding for the study.

Authors’ contributions

Ha Van Thieu and Ha Huy Khoi contributed equally to this article as co-first authors. Ha Van Thieu and Ha Huy Khoi made substantial contributions to acquisition, analysis, and data interpretation. Each author participated in drafting the article and revising it critically for important intellectual content. Each author gave the final approval of the version to be published and agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work, ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.

Publisher’s note

The Publisher of the Journal remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Edited by Zhang Q, Lei Y, Pan Y

References

[1] Chieffi PP, Zevallos Lescano SA, Rodrigues E Fonseca G, Dos Santos SV. Human toxocariasis: 2010 to 2020 contributions from Brazilian researchers. Res Rep Trop Med 2021; 12: 81-91.

[2] Ha TV, Vo TTN, Dang DKH, Tran YML, Kim TV, Le DH, et al. The seroprevalence of toxocariasis and related risk factors in children in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam: Results from a school-based cross-sectional study. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2024; 118(6): 384-390.

[3] Hombu A, Yoshida A, Kikuchi T, Nagayasu E, Kuroki M, Maruyama H. Treatment of larva migrans syndrome with long-term administration of albendazole. J Microbiol Immunol Infect 2019; 52(1): 100-105.

[4] Ha TV, Tang HK, Ngo BV, Le TPT, Le DH, Tran YML, et al. Clinical and laboratory characteristics of Toxocara canis infection among children in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2025; 119(1): 27-32.

[5] Wiśniewska-Ligier M, Woźniakowska-G sicka T, Sobolewska-Dryjańska J, Markiewicz-Józwiak A, Wieczorek M. Analysis of the course and treatment of toxocariasis in children-a long-term observation. Parasitol Res 2012; 110(6): 2363-2371.

[6] Weatherhead JE, Hotez PJ. Worm infections in children. Pediatr Rev 2015; 36(8): 341-354.

[7] Pawlowski Z. Toxocariasis in humans: Clinical expression and treatment dilemma. J Helminthol 2024; 75(4): 299-305.

[8] Mengarda AC, Silva TC, Silva AS, Roquini DB, Fernandes JPS, de Moraes J. Toward anthelmintic drug candidates for toxocariasis: Challenges and recent developments. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 251: 115268.

[9] Fernando SD, Wickramasinghe VP, Dewasurendra RL, Kapilananda GMG. Comparative effect of albendazole and diethylcarbamazine in the treatment of toxocariasis in children from Sri Lanka: A preliminary study. J Clin Med Res 2011; 3(3): 46-51.

[10] Magnaval JF, Bouhsira E, Fillaux J. Therapy and prevention for human toxocariasis. Microorganisms 2022; 10(2): 241.

[11] Gheorghe P. Monoinvasion with Toxocara canis in children. Mold Med J 2018; 61(2): 17-20.

[12] Trong DT. Study on the current situation, some risk factors for toxocariasis in humans, and the effectiveness of treatment with albendazole in 2 communes of An Nhon district, Binh Dinh province (2011-2012). MD. Thesis. Hanoi, Vietnam: National Institute of Malariology, Parasitology and Entomology; 2014.

[13] Kim HB, Seo JW, Lee JH, Choi BS, Park SG. Evaluation of the prevalence and clinical impact of toxocariasis in patients with eosinophilia of unknown origin. Korean J Intern Med 2017; 32(3): 523-529.

[14] Pinelli E, Aranzamendi C. Toxocara infection and its association with allergic manifestations. Endocr Metab Immune Disord Drug Targets 2012; 12(1): 33-44.

[15] Kroten A, Toczylowski K, Oldak E, Sulik A. Toxocarosis in children: Poor hygiene habits and contact with dogs is related to longer treatment. Parasitol Res 2018; 117(5): 1513-1519.