Intestinal parasites cause symptoms such as anal itching or sleep disturbances, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss and blood in the stool. According to the journal "American Family Physician," 30 percent of children worldwide have pinworm infection, and hookworm infection affects more than 1 billion people worldwide. Because of sanitation practices in the U.S., children there have a lower risk of contracting a parasitic infection, compared with children in developing nations. No vaccines prevent parasitic infections in children, and drug therapy is the primary treatment for pediatric patients.
Step 1
Give mebendazole for pinworm infection. For kids with pinworm, doctors prescribe one dose of a chewable tablet or three days of twice-daily doses of a drug called mebendazole, which kills the parasites in your child's intestinal tract. If your child's infection persists, he may need additional treatment two weeks later with pyrantel pamoate or albendazole. Don't give secondary pinworm treatment with albendazole to children under 2 years old. After the worms are gone, wash your child's bedding in hot water and clean his bedroom thoroughly to prevent reinfection.
Step 2
Use albendazole for giardiasis, an intestinal protozoan parasite. Give your child the drug albendazole by mouth for five days, as prescribed by a physician. This drug, referred to as an antihelmitic or antiworm drug, stops newly hatched worms from multiplying in your child's body and fights infection. Administer albendazole with your child's meals because it can upset the stomach. Alert your doctor if your child is prescribed albendazole and the child has allergies or other known reactions to medications or food additives because dangerous interactions can occur.
Step 3
Give multiple medicines for hookworm infection. Physicians prescribe the oral drugs albendazole, mebendazole and pyrantel pamoate for one to three days to kill the hookworm larvae. For children who experience significant blood loss, iron supplements and blood transfusions may be necessary. Encourage your child to eat a protein-rich diet to combat iron deficiency anemia that can occur with pediatric hookworm infection.
Step 4
Take preventive measures to prevent reinfection. Wash hands thoroughly after handling diapers and fecal matter and after using the bathroom to stop or prevent the spread of parasites among family members. Make sure your child's day care center disposes of diapers properly and follows proper hand-washing practices. Drink bottled water and cook meats thoroughly. Avoid swallowing contaminated water from ponds and streams, and if your family goes camping, use iodine tablets to purify water or drink bottled water. Wear shoes when walking outdoors.
