Ascariasis is a helminthic disease that is provoked by roundworms. They parasitize in the human small intestine, although they can sometimes be found in other organs.
The choice of medicine for ascaris should be carried out by a doctor. The fact is that different anthelmintics have different effects on the same groups of helminths. In addition, roundworms themselves have different sensitivities to various drugs belonging to the group of anthelmintics.
Patients should know that in no case should the dosage of the drug recommended by the doctor be exceeded, since all of them have a toxic effect not only on worms, but also on the human body. Any deviation from the selected dose can adversely affect the state of health. Antiparasitic drugs of this group have a wide list of side effects and contraindications. Many of them are prohibited for admission in childhood, almost all of them are not prescribed during pregnancy and lactation. This is another evidence in favor of the fact that a doctor should be involved in the treatment of ascariasis.
Most often, anthelmintics are administered orally, so they are available in the form of tablets, powders, dragees, suspensions and capsules. Parenteral administration of medicines for ascaris is recommended only in severe cases.
A medicine is prescribed for ascaris, depending on the phase of development of the disease.
List of medicines for ascaris
If the parasitic invasion was diagnosed at an early migration stage, when the larvae of the worm did not reach the intestine and did not turn into sexually mature individuals, then the following drugs may be prescribed:
Thiabendazole (Mintezol, Arbotekt, Tetusim, Mertekt) course for 5-7 days.
Mebendazole (Vermox, Wormin, Vermakar, Wormin) course for 3-4 days. Thiabendazole and mebendazole are benzimidazole drugs. They act on intestinal cells of the parasite, preventing the absorption of glucose. As a result, roundworms die of starvation.
Levamisole (Decaris). Levamisole belongs to imidazothiazoles. After taking it, depolarization of neuromuscular blocking agents in parasites occurs.
In parallel, in the migration stage, the patient is given detoxification therapy. To eliminate broncho-pulmonary symptoms, doctors recommend taking bronchodilators and corticosteroids. At the same time, a short course of antihistamine therapy is carried out. This is necessary in order to reduce the likelihood of developing an allergic reaction to the administered medicinal substance, designed to fight parasitic invasion.
When ascariasis is found in the intestinal phase, the same drugs can be prescribed to the patient that were used to treat parasites in the migration stage. They will have a similar effect on adult worms that parasitize the small intestine.
In addition, this list can be supplemented with some more medicines:
Pyrantel pamoate (Helmintox, Pyrantel, Nemocide, Kombantrin). Pyrantel pamoate belongs to the group of imidazothiazoles and acts on the neuromuscular system of roundworms, similarly to Levamisole.
Piperazine. This drug belongs to the group of piperazine salts. Piperazine provokes paralysis of the neuromuscular system of roundworms, disrupting the normal passage of impulses, thereby causing the death of the worm. It should be noted that only Piperazine is approved for use in pregnant women. However, it can not be used at any period of gestation and only under medical supervision.
Pirvinium embonate (Pircon, Pirivinium, Vanquin). The drugs of this group block the enzyme systems of roundworms, disrupting the process of metabolism and transportation of glucose. The effect can be obtained with a single dose of the drug.
Carbendacym (Medamin). The drug paralyzes the muscles of the acarids, as a result of which the parasites lose their ability to stay in the intestines and go out with the feces.
After taking medicine for ascaris
As for the dosage, it is selected individually, depending on the weight of the person and the degree of parasite infestation. Side effects for each drug will vary, but most often, manufacturers of medicines for ascaris indicate the possibility of allergic reactions, including hives, itchy skin, and a rash on the body. It is not excluded the deterioration of appetite, the appearance of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain. From the side of the central nervous system, complications are rarely observed, as possible side effects: headaches, sleep disturbances, dizziness. More detailed information should be checked with the attending physician, who recommends one or another drug for the treatment of ascariasis.
It is worth tuning in to taking enzyme preparations if ascariasis is diagnosed in the intestinal stage. Patients are prescribed Creon, Mezim, Pancreatin, in order to normalize the function of digestion, which very often suffers due to parasitic invasion. You can correct the intestinal microflora with the help of probiotics, including: Linex, Bifidum forte, Bifiform.
As for the non-drug correction of ascariasis, the patient is shown to adhere to a dietary diet for the duration of treatment. It is necessary to limit the intake of carbohydrate and fatty foods into the body, enrich the diet with vitamins and proteins of animal origin.
Laxatives, contrary to popular belief, are not prescribed, since they do not give the desired effect, and with constipation against the background of ascariasis, they can even be harmful. The fact is that constipation can be caused by intestinal obstruction due to a massive accumulation of worms. As a result, taking laxatives will lead to a rupture of the intestinal wall and the patient will develop peritonitis, which poses a direct threat to the life of the patient.
After the course of treatment of ascariasis is completed, the patient must be re-diagnosed to determine the effectiveness of therapy. It is carried out 2 weeks later and 30 days after the completion of the medication. In addition, for another 3 years, the patient must be registered with the dispensary. Every year he will need to take a stool test to determine the eggs of ascaris.
In general, a specific medicine for ascaris is carefully selected by the attending doctor. The course of treatment is most often short, and in some cases it can even be one day. Modern anthelmintic drugs are highly effective and, if used correctly, can achieve success in 80-100% of cases.