Deworming refers to giving an anthelmintic drug to a human or animal to get rid of helminths parasites. Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections caused by a group of parasites commonly known as intestinal worms, are among the most common infections in humans. To get protected against soil-transmitted helminthes infection, WHO recommended deworming, using biannual a single-dose albendazole (400 mg) as a public health intervention.
"Vermicid" is SMC branded Albendazole (400 mg) tablet that protects against Soil Transmitted Helminthes (STH) infection. Vermicid is a chewable tablet that contains Albendazole USP 400 mg per tablet. It is used in the treatment of intestinal nematode infections and in higher doses in the treatment of hydatid disease. Albendazole exhibits vermicidal, ovicidal, and larvicidal activities. The principal mode of action of Albendazole is its inhibitory effect on tubulin polymerization, which results in the loss of cytoplasmic microtubules.
Deworming helps children to have a Better Growth. It also reduces work capacity, productivity of adults and increases maternal and fetal morbidity. Because:
• Infestations are common even in homes with good hygiene, and symptoms may not be obvious.
• Children are most vulnerable, but anyone is susceptible to worm infestation. Adults are just as prone as kids to get infected by parasites.
• Worm eggs can be found everywhere from contaminated soil, food, water, utensils and surfaces, to human and animal faeces, toilet seats, door handles.
• The medication will kill any adult worms in the digestive system, but not the eggs, which is why you need to repeat the deworming every six months.
• Age 12 to 24 months: 200 mg. as a single dose (half of Vermicid tablet).
• Adults & children (over two years of children): 400 mg. (one Vermicid tablet) as a single dose.
• In cases of strongyloidiasis or taeniasis, 400 mg. (one Vermicid tablet) as a single dose should be given for three consecutive days. Giardiasis: 400 mg. (one Vermicid tablet) once daily for five days.
• In hydatid disease (Echinococcosis): In the treatment of echinococcosis, Albendazole (Vermicid) is given by mouth with meals in a dose of 400 mg. twice daily for 28 days for patients weighing over 60 kg. A dose of 15 mg/kg body weight daily in two divided doses (to a maximum total daily dose of 800 mg) is used for patients weighing less than 60 kg. For cystic echinococcosis the 28- days course may be repeated after 14 days without treatment to a total of three treatment cycles. For alveolar echinococcosis, cycles of 28 days of treatment followed by 14 days without treatment may need to continue for months or years. When three courses of therapy have been given in the pre or post surgical setting, optimal killing of cyst contents is achieved.
Albendazole is known to be teratogenic and embryo-toxic in some animals. Therefore it should not be administered during pregnancy or in women thought to be pregnant. It should not be administered in children under 1 year, children who are sick on treatment day and if a child has fever, difficulty breathing, vomiting, severe diarrhea.
Albendazole should only be used in the treatment of echinococcosis if there is constant medical supervision with regular monitoring of serumtransaminase concentrations and of leucocyte and platelet counts.
Side effects include epigastric pains, diarrhoea, headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, constipation, pruritis and dry mouth.
