How to take the right worm medicine

Worm medicine is useful for preventing and treating intestinal worms, which sufferers sometimes do not realize. But, do you know how to take the right worm medicine?

Worms can be caused by various species of worms. The types of worms that most often infect humans include roundworms ( Ascaris lumbricoides ), whipworms ( Trichuris trichiura ), and hookworms ( Necator americanus and Ancylostoma duodenale ).

Inside the host's body, in this case is a human, worms take nutrients from the food that enters and from the tissues of the host's body, including blood. That is why worms can cause blood loss which eventually becomes anemia.

Intake of various important nutrients, such as protein, carbohydrates, and vitamin A, will also decrease, so that sufferers can experience nutritional deficiencies (malnutrition) . This results in the body of the person with worms becoming thin and easily tired. If it occurs in children, lack of nutrition due to intestinal worms will disrupt their growth process.

Besides causing anemia and malnutrition, certain types of worms can also cause diarrhea and dysentery.

Various Worm Drugs and How to Take them

One way to treat and prevent intestinal worms is to take worm medicine. The following are some types of worm medicines available in Indonesia and how to consume them:

1. Piperazine

Piperazine is effective in dealing with pinworm infections ( Enterobius vermicularis ) and hookworms. Piperazine works by paralyzing worms, so that worms can be carried out with feces. Piperazine may be taken before meals (on an empty stomach) or after eating.

Piperazine is not recommended to be taken together with pirantel pamoat, chlorpromazine, tramadol, bupropion, and laxatives containing sodium bisphosphate. Before taking this worm medicine, consult your doctor first if you have a history of epilepsy or liver disease.

2. Pirantel pamoat

The pamoate pirantel is effective in dealing with roundworm infections, pinworms, and hookworms, but is not effective against whipworms. Pirantel pamoat paralyzes worms so that it can be carried out with feces. Pamoat pirantel may be consumed on an empty stomach or after eating. If it is a chewable tablet, the medicine must be chewed before swallowing. Pirantel pamoate should not be taken together with piperazine.

3. Levamisole

Levamisole is effective in treating roundworm infections, but is not effective against whipworms and hookworms. Just like piperazine and pirantel pamoat, Levamisole works by paralyzing worms in the intestine. Levamisole should be taken with water while eating, to minimize the side effects of nausea and abdominal pain.

Avoid taking these drugs with alcoholic beverages. Consult your doctor first if you have a bleeding disorder, rheumatoid arthritis , or severe kidney failure.

Levamisole should not be taken together with phenytoin, albendazole, warfarin, and clozapine, or if want to/ just been immunized.

4. Mebendazole

Mebendazole is effective against pinworms, whipworms, roundworms, and hookworms, including their eggs. The way the mebendazole drug works is to inhibit the absorption of nutrients in the worms, so that the worms will die from starvation.

Mebendazole can be consumed on an empty stomach, but should be consumed with food, especially foods high in fat, such as milk or ice cream. Mebendazole may also be crushed and mixed with food.

Mebendazole should not be taken together with metronidazole, phenytoin, carbamazepine, and cimetidine.

5. Albendazole

Albendazole is effective against tapeworms in pigs ( Taenia solium ), roundworms, hookworms, whip worms, and pinworms, including eggs. The workings of albendazole drugs are the same as mebendazole, which inhibits the absorption of nutrients in worms, so that worms die from starvation.

These drugs must be taken at meals, especially when eating foods that are high in fat, so that the absorption of drugs is better.

Albendazole should not be taken together with dexamethasone, praziquantel, cimetidine, clozapine, seizure drugs (phenobarbital, phenytoin, carbamazepine), diltiazem, ARV drugs, malaria drugs, ganciclovir and itraconazole.

6. Praziquantel

Praziquantel is effective against liver worms ( Fasciola hepatica ) and scistosoma worms. This drug works by paralyzing worms and releasing worms. This medicine must be taken with food and swallowed whole, do not chew or crush, because it tastes bitter. If the child cannot swallow tablets, the drug can be crushed and mixed with soft food or drinks. But remember, the drug must be taken within one hour after it is mixed.

Praziquantel should not be taken along with TB rifampicin, dexamethasone, seizure drugs (phenobarbital, phenytoin, carbamazepine), cimetidine, erythromycin, fungal drugs (itraconazole , ketoconazole, griseofulvin), antiretroviral drugs (nevirapine, efavirenz) and chloroquine malaria drugs.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends albendazole 400 mg or mebendazole 500 mg, just drink every 1 or 2 years, to prevent worms.

Some types of worm drugs, such as piperazine, pirantel pamoat, and mebendazole, are sold freely limited (labeled blue). If you buy your own medicine without a doctor's prescription, read carefully the usage instructions printed on the packaging. Drugs that are in the form of syrup should be shaken before consumption.

The use of worm medicine in children less than 2 years old, pregnant women, and nursing mothers, should be consulted with a doctor first.

Besides by drinking worm medicine, prevention of intestinal worms also needs to be done by maintaining cleanliness, such as using clean water sources, wearing footwear when outside the home, and routinely washing hands before eating and after defecating.

Written by:

dr. Michael Kevin Robby Setyana

Label : Health cat_Health