In recent years, attention has been focused on the increased incidence of parasitic diseases in the United States.1,2 Enterobiasis (infection by the pinworm Enterobius vermicularis) is still a common and troublesome pediatric problem, even though many investigators have reported a variety of successful treatments of this parasitic infection.3-6
Simplification of treatment regimens can contribute immeasurably to a decrease in the incidence and a better control of this infection. To date, in a variety of regimens, we have evaluated the following drugs in the treatment of pinworm infection in children: Egressin (thymol-n-isoamylcarbamate), Diphenan (parabenzlphenylcarbamate), methylrosaniline chloride (gentian violet), oxytetracycline, papain, Cremothalidine, (a phthalylsulfathiazole preparation), carbomycin, garlic, piperazine, promethazine hydrochloride, pyrathiazine, and pyrvinium chloride.5,7-10
In a more recent study (5) we reported the results of treatment of 139 children infected with pinworms. Thirty-four children, varying in age and weight, were treated with a single dose of 3