Anthelmintic drugs. Insecticides

1. Anthelmintic drugsAnthelmintic drugs
InsecticidesInsecticides
(Abstract)(Abstract)

2. RelativeRelative
incidenceincidence
of helminthof helminth
infectionsinfections
worldwideworldwide

4. Niclosamide blocks glucose uptake by intestinal
tapeworms. It may cause some mild GI symptoms.
Piperazine may cause hypersensitivity reactions,
neurological symptoms (including “worm wobble”)
and may precipitate epilepsy.
Praziquantel paralyses both adult worms and
larvae. It may cause nausea, headache,
dizziness, and drowsiness; it cures with
a single dose (or divided doses in one day).

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6. Mebendazole blocks glucose uptake by
nematodes. Mild GI distarbunces may be
caused, and it should not be used
in pregnancy or in children under the age of 2.
Albendazole is similar to mebendazole.
Levamisole paralyses the musculature of
sensitive nematodes which, unable to maintain
their anchorage, are expelled by normal
peristalsis. It may cause abdominal pain,
nausea, vomiting, headache, and dizziness.

7. Thiabendazole inhibits cellular enzymes
of susceptible helminths. Gastrointestinal, neuro-
logical and hypersensitivity reactions, liver damage,
and crystalluria may be induced.
Pyrantel depolarises neuromuscular junctions
of susceptible nematodes which are expelled in the
faeces. It cures with a single dose. It may induce
GI disturbance, headache, dizziness, drowsiness,
and insomnia.
Levamisole

8. Diethylcarbamazine kills both microfilariae and
adult worms. Fever, headache, anorexia, malaise,
urticaria, vomiting, and asthmatic attacks following
the first dose are due to products of destruction of
the parasite, and reactions are minimised by slow
increase in dosage over the first 3 days.
Ivermectin may cause immediate reactions due
to the death of the microfilaria (early stage in the life
cycle of certain parasitic nematodes) .
It can be effective in a single dose, but it works best
if repeated at 6–12-month intervals.

9. Cestodes (tapeworms)
Beef tapeworm – Taenia saginata
Pork tapeworm – Taenia solium
Cysticercosis – Taenia solium
Fish tapeworm – Diphyllobothrium latum
Hydatid disease –
Echinococcus granulosus

10. Worms (helminths) Drug of choice
Tapeworms (cestodes)Tapeworms (cestodes) Niclosamide or Praziquantel or
Albendazole
Roundworms (nematodes)Roundworms (nematodes)
•Enterobius vermicularis (pinworm)
•Ascaris lumbricoides
•Trichuris trichiura (whipworm)
•Trichinella spiralis (trichinellosis)
•Strongyloides stercoralis
•Necator americanus (hookworm)
•Ancylostoma duodenale
•Onchocerca volvulus (Onchocercosis)
•Wuchereria bancrofti (Elephantiasis)
Mebendazole or Pyrantel
Mebendazole or Pyrantel
Mebendazole or Albendazole
Mebendazole
and Thiabendazole
Thiabendazole
Mebendazole or Pyrantel
Mebendazole, Pyrantel, or
Albendazole
Ivermectin
Diethylcarbamazine
Flukes (trematodes)Flukes (trematodes)
•Schistzoma (Schistozomes) Praziquantel

11. Enterobius vermicularisEnterobius vermicularis

13. Life cycle ofLife cycle of Trichinella spiralisTrichinella spiralis (cosmopolitan)(cosmopolitan)

14. TrichinellaTrichinella larvalarva encysted in a characteristic
hyalinized capsule in striated muscle tissue

15. Life cycle of Necator americanusLife cycle of Necator americanus

16. AncylostomaAncylostoma
duodenaleduodenale

17. Elephantiasis (Lymphatic filariasis)Elephantiasis (Lymphatic filariasis)
of the lower extremityof the lower extremity associatedassociated
withwith Wuchereria bancroftiWuchereria bancrofti infectioninfection

18. Life cycle ofLife cycle of Taenia saginataTaenia saginata (beef tapeworm)(beef tapeworm)

20. Life cycle ofLife cycle of Echinococcus granulosusEchinococcus granulosus

22. (small crustaceans)

23. InsecticidesInsecticides
Whereas fleas can be effectively dealt with by
disinfection of clothes, lice and mites require
the topical application of insecticides to the
infected subject. Chlorphenothane (DDT –
Dichlor-Diphenyl-Trichlorethan) kills
insects after absorption of a very small amount,
e.g., via foot contact with sprayed
surfaces (contact insecticide).
The cause of death is nervous system
damage and seizures. In humans DDT
causes acute neurotoxicity only after
absorption of very large amounts.

24. DDT is chemically stable and degraded in
the environment and body at extremely
slow rates. As a highly lipophilic
substance, it accumulates in fat tissues.
Widespread use of DDTDDT in pest control
has led to its accumulation in food
chains to alarming levels. For this
reason its use has now been bannedhas now been banned
in many countries.

25. Lindane is the active gama-isomer of
hexachlorocyclohexane. It also exerts a
neurotoxic action on insects (as well as
humans). Irritation of skin or mucous
membranes may occur after topical use.
Lindane is active also against intrader-
mal mites (Sarcoptes scabieiSarcoptes scabiei, causative
agent of scabies), besides lice and fleas.
It is more readily degraded than DDT.
Permethrin, a synthetic pyrethroid,
exhibits similar antiectoparasitic
activity and may be the drug of choice
due to its slower cutaneous absorption,
fast hydrolytic inactivation, and rapid
renal elimination.
ScabieiScabiei