Pyrantel for the prevention of helminthiasis in children

Many parents, faced with a parasitic disease in their child, choose a safer and more effective drug. The composition of any drug includes chemical components, especially in anthelmintic medications. Often it is synthetic drugs that cause a number of side effects and dysfunction of internal organs.

Parasitologists prescribe antiparasitic drugs for children in the form of a suspension or in syrup, such as pyrantel in suspension for children.

Description of the drug

It is important to know that when choosing a drug for helminths, consultation with a specialist is required. In most cases of self-treatment against parasites, the result can be various organ aggravations and severe side effects. The drug Pirantel, unlike similar anthelmintic drugs, is considered less toxic and is available in the form of a suspension for children from 6 months. The advantages of the suspension are its gentle and mild effect, the child easily accepts it, and it is almost completely eliminated from the child’s body. Pyrantel is also available in tablets.

Pyrantel is prescribed to children who are infected with roundworms. The drug contains active components that disrupt the neuromuscular system of the parasite, which causes paralysis of the worm, and it cannot move, but immobilized parasites do not die in the body, so intoxication does not affect the internal organs of the child. There are no side effects from pyrantel in suspension, and within 24 hours the drug neutralizes all parasites found in the human gastrointestinal tract.

Indications for use

Children are much more likely to become infected with worms, unlike adults, because they love to play with animals and, due to their childhood, do not follow the rules of hygiene. Treatment with pyrantel for children is used everywhere, due to the scanty side effects, but it should be prescribed by a specialist and only after the necessary diagnosis, testing for eggworms.
Pyrantel cannot neutralize parasites located outside the intestines because it does not have the ability to be absorbed into the blood. The instructions for use of pyrantel suspension for children list the parasitic diseases that are treated with this drug:

• hookworm disease;
• ascariasis;
• necatoriasis;
• enterobiasis.

If parasitic roundworms are found in the gastrointestinal tract of a child, this drug is considered an ideal option for therapy, but pyrantel is prescribed not only to remove worms from the body of children, but also as a prophylactic agent.

Analogs

A more expensive analogue is Helmintox . It is also available in two forms: tablets and oral suspension. The main active ingredient is pyrantel. This drug has identical indications and contraindications for use as Pirantel. However, Helmintox is not recommended to be given to children whose weight has not reached 10 kg. The country of origin of the drug is France.

Nemocid . It is also available in two forms: tablets and oral suspension. The main active ingredient is pyrantel pamoate. Approved for use by children only if their weight is more than 10 kg. According to the instructions for use, this medication can only be sold by prescription. The country of origin is India.

Pirantel Polpharma . The main active substance is pyrantel pamoate. The drug is prescribed only for the treatment of children who weigh more than 10 kg. In addition to the active substance, this medication contains a number of auxiliary substances, which, in turn, affects its tolerability and the occurrence of adverse reactions.

Pirantel-Wishfa . Like other drugs, the active substance is pyrantel pamoate. This medication is approved for use by children weighing more than 10 kg. This medicine is produced in Ukraine, in the Zhytomyr region.

Instructions for use of pyrantel suspension for children

Any medicinal product is accompanied by instructions for use indicating the dosage. The required dosage is calculated based on the age and body weight of the sick child; this is indicated in the instructions attached to the medicine. Basically, medications are calculated per 1 kg of human weight, 10 mg of the drug. For the treatment of pediatric patients, an age-appropriate drug is usually prescribed, since children are all approximately the same weight category.

Before starting treatment with the drug, it is necessary to take into account not only the diagnosis and dosage, but also the degree of infection of the child. When treating a disease in a child, all family members need to undergo similar therapy.

Instructions for taking pyrantel in syrup for children are as follows:

• From 6 months to 2 years, take 125 mg of syrup, which is equal to 2.5 ml or half a measuring cup attached to the drug;
• From 2 to 6 years old, take 250 mg of syrup, which is equal to a full measuring cup or 5 ml;
• From 6 to 12 years old, take 500 mg of syrup, which is equal to two full measuring cups or 10 ml;
• For children weighing up to 75 kg and over 12 years of age, 750 mg of syrup is prescribed, which is three cups, or 15 ml;
• If the child weighs more than 75 kg and is over 12 years old, 1000 mg is prescribed, which is four full measuring cups, or 20 ml of syrup.

For preventive measures, a specialist prescribes the use of syrup once a day before meals or immediately after meals.

Enterosorbents and antihistamines reduce the antiparasitic effect of Pyrantel, so taking these drugs should be avoided while taking the main medication

"Pyrantel" for children: important rules and features of taking the drug

The problem of dirty hands is one of the main ones for children of any age. Parents are not always able to make sure that their child washes their hands on time, so various infections penetrate the body very quickly. This applies not only to diseases of bacterial origin, but also to parasitic infections.

Most often, enterobiasis (pinworm infection) and ascariasis are diagnosed in young children. Ascariasis is dangerous for children of any age, since roundworms have increased mobility and can penetrate other internal organs of the baby, including the lungs, liver and even the heart.

For this reason, it is necessary to treat any form of helminthiasis immediately after the first signs appear and a diagnosis is made. One of the drugs prescribed to children of any age is Pirantel.

It has reduced toxicity and, if the instructions are followed, does not harm the growing organism. If necessary, the medicine can be used to treat helminthiasis in pregnant women (according to strict indications).

Composition and release form. What is better to use: tablets or suspension?

The active ingredient of the drug "Pyrantel" is a synthetic pyrantel that has an anthelmintic effect and effectively destroys most types of worms.

The medicine is available in three dosage forms, so it is convenient to give it to children of any age:

• pills;
• chewable tablets;
• suspension.

For babies under one year old, as well as for young children (up to 3-5 years), Pirantel is prescribed in the form of a suspension that has a pleasant taste. Each tablet contains 250 mg of the main substance - this dose is sufficient to ensure a therapeutic effect, therefore it is not recommended to exceed it unless otherwise prescribed by the attending physician.

Interaction with other drugs

"Pyrantel" should not be prescribed simultaneously with piperazine, as the effectiveness of the latter may be weakened.

Features of taking pyrantel by children

Following the instructions of specialists, the drug is taken before meals or immediately after meals. To treat parasites with pyrantel, no additional laxative medications are required.

During the destruction of helminths in children, the correct use of antiparasitic drugs plays an important role:

• when a child is infected with pinworms or roundworms, experts prescribe a suspension at a calculated dosage once a day;
• a patient with hookworm disease is prescribed therapy for three days, this is necessary to effectively get rid of the parasites;
• Necatoriasis disease is treated with a suspension for two days; doctors usually prescribe a double dose.

After completing a course of successful therapy with pyrantel in order to prevent invasion, doctors recommend repeating the drug after 2-3 weeks. According to statistics, a large number of patients, having gotten rid of parasites, become infected again, so a repeat appointment is necessary. Doctors strongly recommend not using additional antiparasitic agents, for example, Decaris, when treating with this drug.

Contraindications and side effects

Contraindications for the use of pyrantel suspension for children are minimal, the list of side effects is small due to the fact that the drug does not linger in the body.

The medicine is approved for all children, except for patients with severe damage to the central nervous system and those suffering from increased muscle weakness.

The drug Pyrantel is considered the best for killing roundworms in children, but in rare cases it is wiser to abandon this drug, if the child is individually intolerant to any component included in the product, and the suspension is not prescribed to a child under 6 months of age.

Rarely, the drug in suspension can cause the following side effects:

• from the gastrointestinal tract - nausea, gag reflex, diarrhea and pain in the abdomen;
• from the central nervous system - drowsiness, sleep disturbance, general weakness, headache and dizziness;
• on the skin - allergic rashes;
• increase in body temperature.

If the child’s body malfunctions above, there is no need to panic. This does not mean that the antihelminthic therapy carried out is unsuccessful. If side effects occur after taking the medicine, it is recommended to conduct a course of restorative therapy for the body.

Side effects and overdose

Pyrantel is well tolerated by children, but in some cases, adverse reactions may occur, including:

• hearing impairment;
• increase in temperature (jumps are possible);
• hives;
• rash;
• vomiting and nausea;
• weight loss;
• increased activity of liver enzymes;
• hallucinations;
• headache;
• confusion;
• problems falling asleep.

These side effects caused by overdose appear extremely rarely, but the possibility of their occurrence cannot be completely excluded, therefore uncontrolled use of Pirantel in childhood is not allowed. In some children, during treatment with the drug, the activity of liver enzymes increases, so monitoring by a pediatrician is mandatory.

Side effects

During treatment, the following side effects may occur:

• nervous system : drowsiness , headache , dizziness , insomnia ;
• digestive system : vomiting, diarrhea , periodic abdominal cramps , anorexia , tenesmus;
• skin and subcutaneous tissue : urticaria , rash;
• hepatobiliary system : increased levels of liver enzymes ;
• other manifestations : feeling of weakness, increased fatigue.

Overdose

In case of an overdose of the drug, the patient may experience the following negative manifestations: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia . But it should be borne in mind that pyrantel is poorly absorbed in the body, which is why signs of intoxication appear very rarely even with a significant overdose. If there is such a need, gastric lavage is prescribed; there is no specific antidote . It is important to control the functions of blood vessels, heart, and respiratory system.

Price, manufacturers and analogues

In modern times, there is a large selection of anthelmintic drugs, and most patients pay attention to the country of the drug manufacturer. The drug Pyrantel in suspension for children is produced in two countries - in Poland (MedanaPharma company) and in India (Oxford Laboratories). The pricing policy of the drug is quite affordable for anyone. The price fluctuates around 50 rubles per package (suspension or tablets).

In some individual cases, pyrantel cannot be taken, then experts will recommend similar medications.

Helmintox is considered identical to Pirantel, and the manufacturer is France. The price per package is within 130 rubles. Prescribed for children from six months and older, as well as for adults.

The drug Combantrin is produced in Belgium, and Nemotsid in India. Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to purchase them in Russian pharmacies, because these drugs do not undergo the registration procedure. They can only be purchased through online portals.

No one is safe from infection. But people who eat insufficiently heat-treated meat and fish, who have pets, and who work with soil are at risk. Also, the source of infection can be already infected people, and insufficient adherence to personal hygiene rules. Only by following the rules of hygiene and carrying out prevention can you avoid infection with parasites.

Composition and release forms

The drug is available in 2 forms:

• pills;
• suspension.

The tablets are characterized by a flat-cylindrical shape with a chamfer. There is a mark on one side for easy division. The tablets have a yellowish tint and are not coated. The packaging used is strips containing 3 tablets. The tablet form of “Pirantel” contains:

• pyrantel pamoate is the main active ingredient;
• gelatin;
• starch;
• magnesium stearate;
• acacia gum;
• propylparaben;
• Aerosil;
• methylparaben;
• talc;
• sodium starch glucolate.

The suspension is a yellow liquid with a viscous consistency. It is produced in dark glass bottles placed in a cardboard box.

The main composition is pyrantel pamoate. The instructions for use of Pirantel include the following additional components:

• sodium propylparaben;
• sodium saccharin;
• sodium methylparaben;
• citric acid;
• sucrose;
• sorbitol 70%;
• sodium carboxymethylcellulose;
• twin 80;
• purified water;
• sodium chloride;
• chocolate essence;
• sodium citrate.

Pyrantel for children: consumer reviews

Review 1: Irina, Volgograd

“At the age of five, my child was diagnosed with pinworms. Since I had never encountered such a problem before and was very worried about side effects from taking antiparasitic drugs, I immediately gave my girl an antiallergic drug. A couple of weeks later, repeated tests revealed helminths in the feces. After a conversation with the doctor, where I spoke in detail about my daughter’s self-medication, he prescribed a new course of treatment, which excluded antihistamines, since they reduce the anthelmintic effect of the pyrantel suspension. Only after proper treatment did we get rid of the parasites.”

Review 2: Margarita, Vladivostok

“We encountered pinworms as a whole friendly family, and even an infant could not avoid this trouble; we all had to be treated together. The specialist thoughtfully prescribed the permissible dose for a four-month-old child, two weeks later they took stool tests and found no parasites, but for the purpose of prevention, we repeated the anthelmintic therapy with pyrantel.”