How should children take albendazole tablets?

Many people said that their understanding of albendazole tablets is limited to the fact that it is a therapeutic drug, and no one knows what its specific uses are. In fact, its main function is to help the human body expel parasites. It can expel roundworms, hookworms, etc. Since children are prone to these diseases, it is most often used on children in clinical practice. How to take albendazole tablets correctly? Many parents want to know.

What is Albendazole Tablets?

Albendazole is an imidazole derivative and a broad-spectrum anthelmintic. Discovered in 1972 by GlaxoSmithKline's Animal Health Laboratory. Albendazole has been included in the World Health Organization's Model List of Essential Medicines and is one of the most important basic health medicines.

Albendazole is a highly effective, low-toxic, broad-spectrum anthelmintic. It can be used clinically to expel ascaris, pinworms, red worms, whipworms, hookworms, and dung roundworms. After being metabolized into sulfoxides or sulfones in the body, they inhibit the parasite's absorption of glucose, leading to the depletion of glycogen in the parasite, or inhibit the fumarate reductase system, hindering the production of ATP, making it impossible for the parasite to survive and reproduce.

How to take albendazole tablets for children

Children under two years old cannot eat it, but children over two years old can eat it, depending on the specific situation. If you just want to deworm, one tablet is enough, and if the situation is more serious, take two tablets.

Precautions when taking albendazole tablets

(1) A minority of cases may experience adverse reactions such as mild headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dry mouth, and fatigue, which disappear on their own without treatment.

(2) It is forbidden to use in children under 2 years old and pregnant women.

(3) It is not suitable for patients with acute diseases, proteinuria, purulent or diffuse dermatitis, epilepsy, etc. and breastfeeding women. Use with caution in patients with severe liver, kidney, heart dysfunction and active ulcer disease.

(4) For a small number of patients, the anthelmintic effect may not be seen until 3 to 10 days after taking the medicine.

(5) During the treatment of cysticercosis, some patients will experience varying degrees of dizziness, headache, fever, urticaria and other reactions. The degree of reaction is related to the number of cysticercosis, the parasitic site and the body's reaction.

Patients with severe infection must be hospitalized, have cerebrospinal fluid and fundus examinations, and be closely monitored. Dexamethasone and 20% mannitol can be given as appropriate when necessary. No treatment is required for cutaneous cysticercosis.

Children's Dietary Considerations

Avoid irregular eating habits in children

Generally speaking, our normal diet consists of three meals a day. Children are in the stage of growth and development, so they need some snacks in addition to the three meals. However, three meals a day is a habit that must be developed. Don’t let your children only eat snacks and then lose their appetite at mealtime.

Don't let your children drink too much tea

If children drink a lot of tea, they will develop iron deficiency anemia due to the effect of tannins in tea. In addition, caffeine in tea can affect the balance of excitement and inhibition in children's nervous system, causing poor development of the nervous system.