Treatment of Intestinal Worms in Children

Identification and Treatment

The World Health Organization recommends albendazole 400 mg as a single oral dose or mebendazole 100 mg twice daily for 3 days as first-line treatment for intestinal worms in children, depending on the specific type of worm identified 1, 2
Roundworm (Ascaris lumbricoides) can be identified by the presence of pink or white adult worms that resemble earthworms in stool 1
Hookworm and Whipworm require microscopic examination of stool for diagnosis 1
Tapeworm segments may be visible in stool 2, 3

For Roundworm, Hookworm, and Whipworm, the first-line treatment is albendazole 400 mg as a single dose or mebendazole 100 mg twice daily for 3 days 1
For Tapeworm, the treatment depends on the species, with praziquantel 10 mg/kg as a single dose recommended for Taenia saginata 3
For Hymenolepis nana (dwarf tapeworm), praziquantel 25 mg/kg as a single dose is recommended 2

Treatment should be given regardless of whether the child is symptomatic 1
Hand hygiene, including washing hands and fingernails with soap frequently, is essential to prevent reinfection 4
Ensure adequate hydration, especially if gastrointestinal symptoms occur 4

For persistent symptoms, a repeat stool examination should be performed 2-3 weeks after treatment 1, 2
If symptoms persist after appropriate treatment, consider alternative diagnoses or resistant infection 1, 2