Recommended Mebendazole Dosing for Worm Infections
The recommended dose of mebendazole for treating worm infections varies by specific parasite, with the standard dose being 100 mg twice daily for 3 days for most helminth infections, or a single dose of 500 mg for certain infections like pinworms. 1
Dosing by Parasite Type
Pinworm (Enterobius vermicularis)
- Mebendazole 100 mg as a single dose 1, 2
- Alternative: a single dose of albendazole 400 mg 2
- A second dose after 2 weeks is recommended to eradicate newly hatched worms 2
Hookworm (Ancylostoma duodenale/Necator americanus)
- Mebendazole 100 mg twice daily for 3 days 3, 4
- Alternative: albendazole 400 mg as a single dose 5
- The conventional 600 mg total dose (100 mg twice daily for 3 days) shows significantly higher cure rates (91.4%) compared to single 300 mg dosing (16.1%) 6
Roundworm (Ascariasis)
- Mebendazole 100 mg twice daily for 3 days 7, 3
- Cure rates of 86.8-100% have been reported with this dosing regimen 7, 4
Whipworm (Trichuriasis)
- Mebendazole 100 mg twice daily for 3 days 7, 8
- For severe symptomatic trichuriasis, repeat courses may be necessary 8
- Cure rates of 86-94% have been reported 7, 4
Special Considerations
Pediatric Dosing
- Children: 100 mg twice daily for 3 days regardless of age or weight 3
- Some older studies used 50 mg twice daily for 3 days in children 7
- For pinworm infection in children: 100 mg as a single dose 2
Mixed Infections
- Mebendazole is particularly valuable for mixed helminth infections due to its broad spectrum activity 7, 4
- For empirical treatment of undiagnosed parasitic infections causing eosinophilia, consider albendazole 400 mg plus ivermectin 200 μg/kg 1, 9
Treatment Efficacy
- Egg count reduction rates are typically high (>90%) even when complete cure is not achieved 7, 3
- For severe infections, particularly trichuriasis, controlling diarrhea before administering mebendazole may improve efficacy 8
Safety Profile
- Mebendazole is generally well-tolerated with minimal side effects reported across multiple studies 7, 8, 3, 4
- No significant adverse effects have been reported in standard dosing regimens 3, 4
Common Pitfalls
- Single-dose regimens may be inadequate for hookworm infections, with significantly lower cure rates compared to the 3-day regimen 6
- For certain parasites like Strongyloides, alternative medications (ivermectin) are preferred over mebendazole 9
- Always consider the possibility of mixed infections when selecting treatment regimens 7, 4