Dipylidiasis Medication

  • Author: Venkat R Minnaganti, MD; Chief Editor: Michael Stuart Bronze, MD   more...
 
Updated: Aug 19, 2011
 

Medication Summary

The goals of pharmacotherapy are to reduce morbidity, to prevent complications, and to eradicate infection.

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Anthelmintics

Class Summary

Dipylidiasis responds well to treatment with anthelmintics. Praziquantel and niclosamide are the preferred drugs and are usually administered as a single oral dose. A follow-up dose is usually unnecessary.

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Praziquantel (Biltricide)

 

Broad-spectrum anthelmintic that increases cell membrane permeability in susceptible worms, resulting in loss of intracellular calcium, massive contractions, and paralysis of musculature. This is followed by attachment of phagocytes to parasites and death. Available as 600-mg coated tablet and is well absorbed from the GI tract.

Niclosamide (Niclocide)

 

Narrow-spectrum anthelmintic poorly absorbed when administered PO. Available as a 500-mg chewable tablet that must be thoroughly chewed to obtain maximal effect.

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Venkat R Minnaganti, MD  Consulting Staff, Department of Medicine, Winthrop University Hospital; Clinical Instructor, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, State University of New York School of Medicine at Stony Brook

Venkat R Minnaganti, MD is a member of the following medical societies: All India Ophthalmological Society, American College of Physicians, American Medical Association, American Society for Microbiology, and Infectious Diseases Society of America

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Pranatharthi Haran Chandrasekar, MBBS, MD  Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Director of Infectious Disease Fellowship, Harper Hospital, Wayne State University School of Medicine

Pranatharthi Haran Chandrasekar, MBBS, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians and Infectious Diseases Society of America

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD  Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Medscape Salary Employment

Thomas M Kerkering, MD  Chief of Infectious Diseases, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine

Thomas M Kerkering, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American College of Physicians, American Public Health Association, American Society for Microbiology, American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Infectious Diseases Society of America, Medical Society of Virginia, and Wilderness Medical Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Eleftherios Mylonakis, MD  Clinical and Research Fellow, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital

Eleftherios Mylonakis, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for the Advancement of Science, American College of Physicians, American Society for Microbiology, and Infectious Diseases Society of America

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Michael Stuart Bronze, MD  Professor, Stewart G Wolf Chair in Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center

Michael Stuart Bronze, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American College of Physicians, American Medical Association, Association of Professors of Medicine, Infectious Diseases Society of America, Oklahoma State Medical Association, and Southern Society for Clinical Investigation

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

References

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Adult tapeworm of Dipylidium caninum. Image provided courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Proglottid of Dipylidium caninum. Image provided courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Dipylidium caninum proglottid under a dissecting microscope cleared with lactophenol. Image provided courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Proglottid of Dipylidium caninum stained with carmine. Image provided courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Egg packets of Dipylidium caninum. Image provided courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Egg packets of Dipylidium caninum. Image provided courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Egg of Dipylidium caninum. Image provided courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Life cycle of Dipylidium caninum. Image provided courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Dipylidium caninum egg packet that contains 8 visible eggs, in a wet mount. Image provided courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
 
 
 
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