Mebendazole
Helminths are parasitic worms that can cause gut infection, and mebendazole is an anthelmintic medicine designed to kill them. It’s available by prescription for adults and children to treat threadworm (pinworm), which causes an intense itch around the anus, especially in children under 10 years old.
Mebendazole can also be used to treat other parasitic worm infections such as roundworm, hookworm, and whipworm. These infest the gut and are usually picked up from travel to certain countries.
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How does it work?
Mebendazole kills parasitic worms by preventing them from obtaining glucose which is essential for their survival.
How do I take it?
Mebendazole comes in chewable tablets. Emverm and Vermox are branded versions of mebendazole. To treat threadworm, everyone living in the same household should be given a single dose of mebendazole at the same time. This is one tablet (which can be chewed, crushed, or swallowed whole). If reinfection is suspected, a second dose should be taken after three weeks.
Mebendazole kills threadworms in the gut, but the worms lay eggs around the anus area. These eggs can survive for up to 2 weeks outside the body and can fall onto clothes, underwear, bedding, and carpets and be caught up in dust; therefore, effective hygiene measures are needed to prevent reinfection due to swallowing these eggs.
Who should avoid mebendazole?
Do not take mebendazole if you have previously had an allergic reaction to mebendazole or another ingredient listed in the medication. If your child is under 2 years old and has threadworm, speak to their doctor first.
Speak with your doctor or pharmacist before taking mebendazole if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, intolerant to certain sugars, or are taking medicines called metronidazole or cimetidine.
Any side effects? Anything else I can do?
Side effects can include stomach ache, diarrhea, bloating and flatulence
These side effects are usually minor and very temporary and should resolve quickly in most cases.
Should I really treat the whole family?
If you or your child have threadworms, you should ideally treat everyone in the house unless they have any relevant medical restrictions, even if they aren't showing symptoms. This is because threadworms are easily transmitted from person to person through contact with contaminated surfaces, clothing, bedding, or food.
To avoid re-infection, you should also practice good hygiene by washing your hands, cutting your nails short, cleaning your home, washing bed linen at a high temperature, and changing your underwear on a regular basis. For some types of worms, treating the entire family may not be necessary unless they share the same source of infection or exhibit similar symptoms.
You should visit your doctor or pharmacist to determine whether you should treat the entire family for worms, especially if there are children under the age of 2 or if anyone is pregnant in the household, so they can make a recommendation on whether to treat or not if the risk is low.
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