What is the recommended dose of Mebendazole (Antiparasitic medication) for pediatric patients?

Mebendazole Dosing for Pediatric Patients

For children ≥12 months of age, administer mebendazole 100 mg orally twice daily for 3 consecutive days for most intestinal helminth infections. 1, 2

Standard Dosing Regimen

• 100 mg twice daily for 3 days is the established dose for treating soil-transmitted helminth infections (ascariasis, trichuriasis, hookworm) in children, regardless of age or weight once they are ≥12 months old 1, 3

• This regimen achieves cure rates of 74-88% for symptomatic trichuriasis and approximately 95-100% for ascariasis 2, 4

• Alternative single-dose option: 500 mg as a single dose can be used for ascariasis specifically 1

Critical Age Restriction

• Do NOT administer mebendazole to infants <12 months of age 5

• Do NOT administer to pregnant women 5

Parasite-Specific Considerations

For Whipworm (Trichuris trichiura)

• Standard 100 mg twice daily for 3 days remains the recommended dose 1
• Consider combination therapy with ivermectin for improved efficacy in severe infections 1
• For severe symptomatic trichuriasis, a 6-day course (100 mg twice daily) may be more effective than the standard 3-day regimen, achieving 88% cure rates 4

For Ascariasis (Ascaris lumbricoides)

• Either 100 mg twice daily for 3 days OR 500 mg single dose are both acceptable 1
• Reduction rates approach 100% with the standard 3-day regimen 3

For Hookworm (Necator americanus)

• Standard 100 mg twice daily for 3 days achieves 94.9% reduction in egg counts 3

Important Clinical Pearls

• Tablets should be chewed for optimal absorption 5

• Complete the full course even if symptoms improve before completion 1

• Re-treatment may be necessary in areas with high reinfection rates or if initial treatment fails 1, 2

• For severe symptomatic infections with diarrhea, consider controlling diarrhea before or during mebendazole administration to enhance drug efficacy 2, 4

Safety Profile

• Mebendazole is well-tolerated and free from significant toxic effects in the recommended dosing regimen 2, 4, 3

• No dose adjustment is required based on weight in children, though the standard 100 mg twice daily dose applies universally 3

Alternative Agent

• Albendazole 400 mg single dose can be used as an alternative for ascariasis and other soil-transmitted helminths 1