McKenna's Pharmacology for Nursing, 2e

13

Anthelmintic agents

Learning objectives Upon completion of this chapter, you should be able to: 1. List the common worms that cause disease in humans. 2. Describe the therapeutic actions, indications, pharmacokinetics, contraindications, most common adverse reactions and important drug–drug interactions associated with the anthelmintics. 3. Discuss the use of anthelmintics across the lifespan. 4. Compare and contrast the prototype drug mebendazole with other anthelmintics. 5. Outline the care considerations, including important teaching points to stress, for people receiving an anthelmintic.

Test your current knowledge of anthelmintic agents with a PrepU Practice Quiz!

Glossary of key terms Ascaris : the most prevalent helminthic infection; fertilised roundworm eggs are ingested, which hatch in the small intestine and then make their way to the lungs, where they may cause cough, fever and other signs of a pulmonary infiltrate cestode: tapeworm with a head and segmented body parts that is capable of growing to several metres in the human intestine filariasis: infection of the blood and tissues of healthy individuals by worm embryos or filariae helminth: worm that can cause disease by invading the human body hookworms: worms that attach themselves to the small intestine of infected individuals, where they suck blood from the walls of the intestine, damaging the intestinal wall and leading to severe anaemia with lethargy, weakness and fatigue nematode: roundworms such as the commonly encountered pinworm, whipworm, threadworm, Ascaris or hookworm that cause a common helminthic infection in humans; can cause intestinal obstruction as the adult worms clog the intestinal lumen or severe pneumonia when the larvae migrate to the lungs and form a pulmonary infiltrate pinworm: nematode that causes a common helminthic infection in humans; lives in the intestine and causes anal and possible vaginal irritation and itching platyhelminth: flatworms, including the cestodes or tapeworms; a worm that can live in the human intestine or can invade other human tissues (flukes) schistosomiasis: infection with a blood fluke that is carried by a snail; it poses a common problem in tropical countries, where the snail is the intermediary in the life cycle of the worm; larvae burrow into the skin in fresh water and migrate throughout the human body, causing a rash and then symptoms of diarrhoea, and liver and brain inflammation threadworm: pervasive nematode that can send larvae into the lungs, liver and CNS; can cause severe pneumonia or liver abscess trichinosis: disease that results from ingestion of encysted roundworm larvae in undercooked pork; larvae migrate throughout the body to invade muscles, nerves and other tissues; can cause pneumonia, heart failure and encephalitis whipworm: worm that attaches itself to the intestinal mucosa and sucks blood; may cause severe anaemia and disintegration of the intestinal mucosa

ANTHELMINTICS albendazole ivermectin

mebendazole praziquantel pyrantel