Toxocariasis Medication

Updated: Feb 10, 2023
  • Author: Sun Huh, MD, PhD; Chief Editor: John L Brusch, MD, FACP  more...
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Medication

Medication Summary

In general, blood eosinophilia combined with a positive serologic test result indicates active toxocariasis and requires treatment. Deciding whether to treat covert or subclinical toxocariasis that does not show eosinophilia is controversial. Consider treatment in patients with a total serum IgE level over 500 IU/mL. Mebendazole or diethylcarbamazine kills the nematode larvae. Prednisone can be used as an adjunct to antihelmintic therapy in patients with wheezing or other signs of tissue inflammation.

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Anthelmintics

Class Summary

These agents are specific to nematode infection.

Mebendazole (Vermox)

DOC. Adverse effects are negligible, except headaches during early therapy. These symptoms are from metabolites secreted from nematodes that are killed by the drug. Causes worm death by selectively and irreversibly blocking uptake of glucose and other nutrients in susceptible adult intestines where helminths dwell.

Albendazole (Albenza)

Second DOC if mebendazole is difficult to obtain. Decreases ATP production in the worm, causing energy depletion, immobilization, and, finally, death.

Diethylcarbamazine citrate (Hetrazan)

Synthetic organic compound highly specific for several common parasites. Does not contain any toxic metallic elements. Not recommended as the DOC because of more severe adverse effects. Recommended if therapy with mebendazole fails or mebendazole is not available.

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