Pinworms--Incidence, predictability and treatment with thiabendazole.

One hundred-ninety-two children, ages 2 to 16 years, selected from the outpatient department medical clinic without regard to presenting complaint were examined by conventional cellulose tape specimens obtained at home. Twenty-four per cent of the patients were found to have pinworm ova present. The physicians seeing the last 84 patients were asked to estimate the likelihood of enterobiasis in these children. By various means from history, physical examination or blood cell differential counts, estimates were slightly better than by chance. Treatment of 185 patients in a random fashion with placebo, thiabendazole and pyrvinium pamoate resulted in negative tests three weeks after therapy, in 15, 92 and 95 per cent of patients, respectively. Transient side effects consisting of anorexia and vomiting were noted in all three groups, but were most pronounced in adults receiving thiabendazole.