Hookworm infection drugs used

Albendazole, a broad-spectrum oral antihelminthic, is the drug of choice and is approved in the USA for treatment of hydatid disease and cysticercosis. It is also used in the treatment of pinworm and hookworm infections, ascariasis, trichuriasis, and strongyloidiasis. 

Ciclobendazole (16) This drug shows high activity against ascariasis and hookworm infections. Consequently, it has been used to treat patients with mild helminthiasis at a dose of 200 or 400 mg/day for 3 days. Ciclobendazole was found to be highly effective and well tolerated except for vomiting and diarrhea occurring in only a few cases [210]. 

This is an effective drug for the treatment of hookworm infections in humans. The drug possesses better activity against A. duodenale than against N. americanus. The drug is administered orally at a dose of 5 g (2.5g base)/adult and 2.5g (1.25g base)/child [12,23,34,89]. Bephenium hydroxynaphthoate has been used in individual and community treatment of ancylostomiasis with high success however, it was not possible to eradicate the infection completely [90-92]. 

Pyrantel Pamoate. This drug (10), C34H30N2O6S, cures pinworm infections and is close to 100% effective against Ascaris when given in a single dose (28,29). Pyrantel pamoate is also a principal drug for the treatment of hookworm infections thus it is useful in patients with mixed worm infections. 

Pyrantel pamoate is a broad-spectrum antihelminthic highly effective for the treatment of pinworm, ascaris, and Trichostrongylus orientalis infections. It is moderately effective against both species of hookworm. It is not effective in trichuriasis or strongyloidiasis. Oxantel pamoate, an analog of pyrantel not available in the USA, has been used successfully in the treatment of trichuriasis the two drugs have been combined for their broad-spectrum antihelminthic activity. 

Albendazole (Albenza) is primarily used to treat infections caused by the larval form of certain cestodes (tapeworms). These infections often cause cysts (hydatid disease) in the liver, lungs, and other tissues albendazole is used as an adjunct to the surgical removal of these cysts or as the primary treatment if these cysts are inoperable. This drug is also effective against many gastrointestinal roundworms and hookworms, and is typically used as a secondary agent if other anthelmintics are not effective in treating these infections. 

Mebendazole, albendazole, and pyrantel pamoate (antiminth, others) are preferred drugs all infected persons should be treated. Mebendazole and albendazole are preferred for therapy of asymptomatic-to-moderate ascariasis. Both compounds should be used with caution to treat heavy Ascaris infections, alone or with hookworms. Rarely, hyperactive ascarids may migrate to cause complications such as appendicitis, biliary or intestinal obstruction, and intestinal perforation— sometimes requiring surgery. Pyrantel is safe for use in pregnancy, whereas BZAs should be avoided during the first trimester (see below). 

Clinical use Albendazole has a wide anthelmintic spectrum. It is an alternative drug for larva migrans, for ascariasis, and for infections caused by roundworms, whipworms, hookworms, pinworms, and threadworms. Albendazole is also active against the pork tapeworm in the larval stage. 

Clinical use Mebendazole is a drag of choice for pinworm and whipworm infections. It is one of two drugs of choice (with pyrantel pamoate) for roundworm and for combined infections with ascarids and hookworm. Mebendazole can also be used as a backup drag in certain cestode and trematode infections. Less than 10% of the drag is absorbed systemi-cally after oral use, and this portion is metabolized rapidly. 

Clinical use Pyrantel pamoate is one of two drugs of choice (with mebendazole) for infections due to hookworm, pinworm, and roundworm. The drug is poorly absorbed when given orally. 

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