Trichinosis medical therapy

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Danitza Lukac

The mainstay of therapy for trichinosis are anthelmintics drugs such as albendazole or mebendazole.^[1]

• Administration of anthelmintics
• Administration of glucocorticoids if needed.

• Hospitalization
  • Compulsory for severe cases
• Administration of glucocorticoids, anthelmintics and analgesics.
• Administration of fluids and electrolytes ^[2]

Trichinosis in adult and children ≥2yrs of age

• Preferred regimen (1): Albendazole 400 mg PO bid for 8 to 14 days OR Mebendazole 200-400 mg PO tid for 3 days, then 400-500 mg PO tid for 10 days
• Note:
  • Albendazole:
    • Pregnancy: Albendazole is pregnancy category C.
    • Lactation: It is not known whether albendazole is excreted in human milk.
    • Pedriatic patients: The safety of albendazole in children less than 6 years old is not certain. Studies of the use of albendazole in children as young as one year old suggest that its use is safe.
  • Mebendazole:
    • Pregnancy: Mebendazole is in pregnancy category C.
    • Lactation: It is not known whether mebendazole is excreted in breast milk. The WHO classifies mebendazole as compatible with breastfeeding and allows the use of mebendazole in lactating women.
    • Pedriatic patients: The safety of mebendazole in children has not been established.

Template:WH Template:WS