What is the recommended treatment for deworming (deparasitization) in individuals suspected of having intestinal parasites?

From the Guidelines

The recommended treatment for deworming in individuals suspected of having intestinal parasites is either albendazole 400 mg or mebendazole 500 mg as a single dose, based on the most recent guidelines from 2025 1. When it comes to treating intestinal parasites, the specific parasite involved plays a crucial role in determining the most effective treatment.

• For suspected roundworm (Ascaris) infection, a single dose of albendazole 400 mg or mebendazole 500 mg is typically effective 1.
• Other parasites, such as hookworm and whipworm, may require different treatment regimens, but albendazole and mebendazole are often the first line of treatment.
• It's essential to note that the treatment of schistosomiasis, another type of intestinal parasite, involves praziquantel, with dosing varying depending on the specific species of Schistosoma 1. Before starting treatment, stool examination is recommended to identify the specific parasite. Patients should take medication with food to improve absorption, complete the full course even if symptoms improve, and follow up with repeat stool testing 2-4 weeks after treatment to confirm clearance.
• The medications used for deworming work by either paralyzing the parasites or disrupting their metabolic processes, preventing them from maintaining their grip on intestinal walls and allowing them to be expelled through normal bowel movements.
• In cases where the diagnosis is made based on serology alone, schistosomiasis from the Asia-Pacific region should be treated with 60 mg/kg praziquantel in two divided doses 1.

From the FDA Drug Label

MEBENDAZOLE TABLETS, USP CHEWABLE TABLET 100 mg Your doctor has prescribed this medicine to treat an infection caused by an intestinal worm. The medication used to treat these worms causes them to be expelled from the body.

The recommended treatment for deworming (deparasitization) in individuals suspected of having intestinal parasites is mebendazole.

• Mebendazole is used to treat infections caused by intestinal worms, including pinworms, hookworms, whipworms, and roundworms.
• It is essential to follow the doctor's instructions carefully and take the medication as prescribed.
• In addition to medication, preventing reinfection and infection of other people is crucial by understanding and following simple facts about worms, such as washing hands and fingernails with soap often, wearing tight underpants, and cleaning the bedroom floor and toilet seats regularly 2.

From the Research

Deworming Treatment

The recommended treatment for deworming (deparasitization) in individuals suspected of having intestinal parasites varies depending on the type of parasite.

• For Giardia infection, treatment with metronidazole, nitazoxanide, or tinidazole is recommended 3.
• For Cryptosporidium infection, treatment with nitazoxanide is effective for symptoms lasting more than two weeks 3.
• For Cyclospora infections, treatment with sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim may be used to treat patients with persistent diarrhea 3.
• For Trichinella infection, severe symptoms are treated with albendazole in patients older than one year 3.
• For Pinworm infections, albendazole and pyrantel pamoate are both effective treatments 3.

Combination Therapy

Some studies suggest that combination therapy may be effective in treating intestinal parasites.

• A study found that praziquantel and albendazole administered together may have a synergistic effect on intestinal parasites 4.
• However, the balance between the therapeutic efficacy of this combination of drugs and its safety profile needs to be studied, especially with regard to albendazole 4.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of intestinal parasites is mainly performed by the examination of feces, which consists of the direct visualization and identification of the parasites eliminated through the feces 5.

• A new parasitological technique called Three Fecal Test (TF-Test) has been developed to improve the diagnostic accuracy of gastrointestinal parasitosis 5.
• The TF-Test conventional and modified can be used for the diagnosis of several human and animal parasites, with satisfactory results 5.

Control Measures

Careful evaluation of control measures is essential to ensure that they are cost-effective 6.

• The evaluation of the effects of control on intestinal helminths and intestinal protozoa requires an understanding of the different epidemiological patterns of these two groups of parasites 6.
• The transmission dynamics and morbidity associated with the major helminth infections are dependent on the size of the worm burdens, and the intensity of infection can be assessed by determining the mean density of parasite eggs in faecal specimens 6.