Albendazole
Albendazole is one of the most widely used antiparasite drugs for curing
intestinal worm infections of children, and when co-administered as a single
treatment with either of the older anti-filarial drugs, DEC or invermectin,
it also enhances the ability of these drugs to stop the spread of filarial
infection.
Cost = 0 (donated by its developer, SmithKline Beecham, plc)
Diethylcarbamazine (DEC)
Developed over 50 years ago, DEC is inexpensive, safe and effective. A
single annual dose can reduce microfilariae by 90% for at least one year. If
DEC is given in combination with albendazole or ivermectin, effectiveness is
greatly enhanced and transmission can be dramatically interrupted.
Unfortunately, DEC cannot be used to treat lymphatic filariasis in most of
Africa because of severe side-reactions when certain other infections are
also present.
Cost = US $0.02/person/year
Ivermectin
A drug that is safe and easy to use. A single dose quickly kills immature
forms of the filarial worms (microfilariae) within the human body and when
used with albendazole or DEC dramatically reduces transmission of the
disease for at least one year. Millions of people in Africa and the Americas
are already receiving ivermectin (Mectizan®) annually for treatment of a
related infection, river blindness (onchocerciasis)
Cost = Not yet determined. Ivermectin just recently received
regulatory approval for the treatment of lymphatic filariasis.
DEC-fortified salt
Common edible salt can be fortified easily and cheaply with DEC. The drug is
very stable, survives cooking and is tasteless. Small amounts taken over a
period of months to years can eliminate microfiliariae and interrupt
transmission completely.
Cost = US $0.30/person/year
For diagnosis - yes!
Circulating Filarial Antigen (CFA) Test
A new simple test to diagnose infection. It can be performed on a
finger-prick blood droplet taken at any time of day and gives results in a
few minutes. It replaces the costly, awkward, unpopular, night-time blood
sampling and microscopic examination that used to be the only way to
determine infection since microfilariae in most parts of the world are found
in the blood only near midnight!