Therapeutic evaluation of Benzimidazole antihelminthic combinations in the treatment of geohelminthiasis among infected children at the Moanda Medical Center in South-east, Gabon

Background: Geohelminthiasis is a major public health problem in sub-Saharan Africa. To combat these infections, benzimidazole-based antihelmintics are used in most mass drug administration programs. This study evaluates the therapeutic efficacy of two forms of administration of benzimidazole-based antihelmintics to children with geohelminthiasis at the Moanda. Medical center Materials and Methods: This retrospective, prospective and comparative study encompassed the periods from February 13, 2022 to September 28, 2022, enrolled children aged 2 to 17 years, diagnosed positive for the main geohelminths by microscopic techniques, at the medical analysis laboratory of the Moanda Medical Center. Results: 198 children with geohelminthiasis were included in this study. Using the Wilcoxon signed ranks test with two-sided alternative continuity correction, the level of statistical significance retained was p ≤ 0.05, This study showed that, at control C1, twenty-one days after treatment, the cure rates of participants in group A, against Ascaris and Trichuris were 98% [86-100], 69% [56-79]] respectively, and those in group B, 96% [84-99], and 64% [51-75]. At the C2 control, 42 days after treatment, participants' cure rates were 89% [75-96] and 68% [69-85] respectively for group A, and 96% [84-99] and 68% [55-79] for group B. Irrespective of the combination therapy administered against species such as Strongyloides, hookworms and Oxyure (Enterobius vermicularus), the cure rate was 100% in both controls. Reduction in number of eggs and larvae of these species was also highly significant, at almost 100%, irrespective of group A or B, in both controls. Lowest reduction in number of eggs 45.05% [41.07-49.091], was observed among Trichuris trichiura, during control 2 in group B. The therapeutic combinations administered were satisfactory and well tolerated by the participants in all the regimens implemented, except for Trichuris trichiura where resistance was observed, in participants treated with combination B. The therapeutic combinations administered were satisfactory and well tolerated by the participants, in all the regimens implemented, with the exception of Trichuris trichiura, which showed resistance in participants treated with combination B. Conclusion: These Benzimidazole-based antihelmintic drugs showed satisfactory efficacy against geohelminthiasis. However, if this scourge is to be eradicated, Trichuris treatment needs to be improved