Albendazole is a prescription medication used to treat infections caused by a type of worm called a helminth. This drug belongs to a group of medicines called anthelmintics. It is a broad-spectrum anthelmintic of the benzimidazole class that is designed to treat all worms. Worm infestation can spread to anyone, but it is more prevalent in children who live in a soil area or live in an unhygienic environment, eat without washing their hands, and play with pets like cats or dogs. Generally, all worms are known as parasitic worms. In medical terms, they are knowns as helminths. If you get a worms infection, it would say Helminthiasis. Although Helminthiasis is rarely deadly, it frequently makes your health ill, especially in children. This article aims to provide an accurate dose of albendazole to your kids. We will discuss how to take the exact albendazole dose for kids like infants (1-2 years), toddlers/preschool (2-3 years), and school-aged children (more than 3 years).

1. Albendazole dose for kids in worm infestation –
The Miracle Anthelmintic
​
Introduction
Do you know the right dose of albendazole in kids? We generally use this medicine
but don’t know the exact dose. Today, we will discuss the proper albendazole dose
for kids in different worm infestations.
Albendazole is an anthelmintics drug that kills or expels the worms from your
intestine.
You will be shocked to know that 64% of children were at risk from STH
(Soil-Transmitted Helminths) in 2012.

2. Worm infestation can spread to anyone, but it is more prevalent in children who
live in a soil area or live in an unhygienic environment, eat without washing their
hands, and play with pets like cats or dogs.
Generally, all worms are known as parasitic worms. In medical terms, they are
knowns as helminths. If you get a worms infection, it would say Helminthiasis.
Although Helminthiasis is rarely deadly, it frequently makes your health ill,
especially in children.
This article aims to provide an accurate dose of albendazole to your kids.
We will discuss how to take the exact albendazole dose for kids like infants (1-2
years), toddlers/preschool (2-3 years), and school-aged children (more than 3
years).
Let’s know about this medicine.

3. What is National Deworming Day (NDD)? What
medicine is given to children on NDD?
In India, soil-transmitted helminths (STH) are a significant threat to public health.
An estimated 22 crore Indian children ages 1-14 are potentially at risk for worm
infections.
The presence of worms in children can lead to anaemia, malnutrition, and impaired
mental and physical development.
To address this problem, in 2015 Government of India launched a fixed date on
10th February every year for deworming for all children aged 1-19 years.
This date is considered National Deworming Day.
National Deworming Day is a well public health initiative, which was aimed at
reducing the burden of parasitic worm infections among children.
During this day, albendazole medicine is administered to children at school sites,
Anganwadi centers, and many health centers to prevent the spread of parasitic
worms.
What class of drug is albendazole?
Albendazole is a prescription medication used to treat infections caused by a type
of worm called a helminth.
This drug belongs to a group of medicines called anthelmintics. It is a
broad-spectrum anthelmintic of the benzimidazole class that is designed to treat all
worms.
What are the uses of albendazole?

4. Since albendazole is a broad-spectrum anthelmintic, therefore it is an effective
drug in various intestinal worms and systemic (or tissue) worm parasites.
Intestinal helminths
Certain parasitic worms may enter your body due to a poor hygienic environment.
These parasitic worms live in your intestine. They grow gradually by absorbing
nutrients and glucose from your body. As a result, these worms start multiplying
themselves by producing eggs.
Here, Albendazole drug is used in the treatment of the following diseases –
● Roundworm disease (Ascariasis & Strongyloidiasis) – Roundworm grows in
the small intestine. It may penetrate in blood and infect your lungs. This type
of worm can be fatal in immunosuppressed patients.
● Hookworm disease (ancylostomiasis and necatoriasis) – Hookworm lives in
the small intestine of an infected person. It causes anemia via losing
intestinal blood loss.
● Pinworm or threadworm disease (Enterobiasis) – white worms can be seen
in the stool.
● Whipworm disease (Trichuriasis) – generally lives in the large intestine.
Hookworm, roundworm, and whipworm are known as soil-transmitted helminths.
Pinworm or threadworm is the most common parasite that causes infestation in
kids.

5. Systemic helminths
Worm infestation can be fatal if worms migrate into your blood and tissues. It can
penetrate your tissue or blood via the intestine, skin, and respiration.
Fortunately, albendazole is a highly effective drug, even in systemic helminths.
Albendazole can be used in certain diseases like –
● Filariasis – Worms cause blockage of your lymph flow. Due to this, your
arms, legs, and scrotum may fill with fluid.
● Trichinosis – Consumption of insufficiently cooked meat, especially pork,
usually leads to this condition.

6. ● Cystic hydatid infection (Echinococcosis) – Caused by larvae of Dog
tapeworm. It mainly affects your liver, lungs, and brain.
● Neurocysticercosis – Caused by larvae of the pork tapeworm. It mainly
affects your brain and spinal cord area.
How do you know if you have worms in your stomach?
You may have experienced the following symptoms of worms in the stomach or
intestine –
● Abdominal pain
● Nausea or vomiting

7. ● Diarrhea
● Small and white worms in stool
● Severe itching around your anus, especially at night
● Loss of weight
● Loss of appetite
● Blood in stool
● Fatigue
Sometimes, your child may do teeth grinding. During this condition, your child
may also have an abnormal craving for eating inedible foods like chalk, clay, paper,
ashes, etc. This eating disorder is called Pica.
How to use albendazole tablets or syrup in different
parasitic infections?
Although albendazole 400 mg is considered the standard dose for children above 2
years in most worm infections like –
● Hookworm disease (ancylostomiasis and necatoriasis)
● Roundworm infection (ascariasis)
● Whipworm infection (trichuriasis)

8. ● Threadworm infection (strongyloidiasis)
● Pinworm infection (enterobiasis)
● Giardia infection (giardiasis in children)
However, the dose of albendazole may vary in certain worm infection like Cystic
hydatid disease and Neurocysticercosis.
A cystic hydatid infection is generally caused by larvae of dog tapeworm. It mainly
affects your liver, lungs, and stomach.
Whereas neurocysticercosis infection is caused by larvae of the pork tapeworm. It
mainly affects your brain and spinal cord area.
Here, albendazole is considered a drug of choice in Cystic hydatid disease and
Neurocysticercosis.
The dosing of albendazole in these conditions is entirely different.
If you have cystic hydatid disease, you need to take albendazole 400 mg twice for
28 days in 3 cycles of treatment, followed by a 14-day washout period.
For children, the dose will be calculated as 15mg/kg per body weight.
In Neurocysticercosis, albendazole 400 mg twice daily with meals for 8 to 30 days.
It can be repeated as necessary.
Is Albendazole safe for toddlers (1-3 years old child)?
According to a study, Albendazole medicine is generally recommended as
preventive chemotherapy (deworming) in children because children are more at
risk of worm infection.

9. A single dose of Albendazole is usually recommended to every child who lives in a
slum or unhygienic area.
You may give this drug to your child every year or every 6 months under medical
supervision.
It is a highly effective and well-tolerated drug among children over 1 year.
A review article published in Cambridge University Press 2001 summarised the
safety and efficacy of Albendazole in humans.
In this study, it was found Albendazole is absolutely safe in children and adults.
It has very low or negligible side effects. Moreover, Albendazole is easy to
administer because Albendazole requires only single-dose administration.
However, Albendazole is a safest drug; nevertheless, it’s crucial to consult with a
healthcare professional or pediatrician.
How much albendazole tablet dose for a child for
deworming?
The albendazole dose for children is usually calculated based on weight and the
condition being treated. A common dosing guideline for albendazole in children is
15 mg/kg of body weight, given as a single dose.
Therefore, it is always important to consult with doctor or pediatrician before
giving any medicine to your child.
Albendazole drug is available in the form of tablets and syrup. You may give either
tablet or syrup (suspension) to your child as per their feasibility. It comes in the
market with a brand name of
● Zentel

10. ● Noworm
● Bandy
● Bendex
Albendazole dose for child
1. Albendazole dose for infants (less than 1 year)
Albendazole is usually not recommended in infants (less than 1 year) because there
is not enough safety data in this age group.
2. Albendazole dose for 1 to 2-year old child
According to WHO, the albendazole 200 mg dose is recommended for children in
age group 1-2 years.
A single dose is sufficient to treat worm infestations.
If the symptoms are not subsided, then the same dose can be repeated after 2
weeks.

11. 3. Albendazole dose for above 2 years child
If your child’s age is more than 2 years, like pre-schoolers (2-5 years), school-aged
children (6-12 years), and teenagers (>12 years). Then albendazole 400 mg single
dose is sufficient for treating worm infestations.
If the condition is not controlled well, then the same dose can be repeated after 2
weeks.
In 2006, a randomized controlled trial was conducted in Uganda associated with
deworming with increased weight gain after taking the standard dose of
Albendazole 400 mg in preschool children over three consecutive years.
Albendazole dose for adults and older
Albendazole 400 mg is the standard dose, and a single dose is quite enough for
deworming. It can be given in any age group, either adult or older.
What would be the exact albendazole syrup dose for
children?
Albendazole medicine usually comes in a suspension dosage form.
It contains a suspended molecule of albendazole in a 10 ml bottle. So, we require
shaking the albendazole oral suspension bottle before use.
Albendazole oral suspension is typically easier to administer, especially for
children or persons who have difficulty swallowing tablets.

12. It usually comes in a liquid form that can be measured with a dosing cup or spoon,
making it convenient for accurate dosage administration.
It is unknown to people what suspension means. This is why albendazole
suspension is often called albendazole syrup.

13. Albendazole oral suspension is popular in brand names such as Zentel, Abendol,
Bandy, Bendex, Noworm, ABZ, etc.
The entire 10 ml bottle contains 400 mg albendazole drug (40 mg/ml). It means
each 5ml of albendazole oral suspension (or syrup) contains 200 mg of albendazole
drug.
The dosage of albendazole syrup for children would typically be determined by
their weight and the specific type of parasitic infection being treated.

14. Albendazole syrup dose for 1-year-old child
The dose of albendazole is 15 mg/kg/day of body weight, which requires a single
dose.
Suppose your child is 1 year old and his/her body weight is around 10 kg. To
calculate albendazole dosage, we need to multiply 15 mg/kg by 10 kg. After
calculating, your child will require 150 mg (15 x 10) albendazole drug.
The Albendazole 200 mg is considered the standard dose for 1 year old child. Your
child will require 5 ml of albendazole syrup.
Albendazole syrup for 2-year-old child
It is generally recommended albendazole 200 mg for children, whose age is less
than 2 years old.
You may require albendazole oral suspension of 5 ml for the 2-year-old child as a
single dose.
Albendazole syrup dose for > 2 year old child

15. Suppose your child’s age is more than 2 years. In that case, you will be required to
give an entire albendazole oral suspension bottle (400 mg of 10ml).
For example –
Age groups Albendazole
dose in mg
Albendazole
dose in ml
Albendazole syrup
dose for 3 year old
child
400 mg Entire 10 ml
bottle
Albendazole syrup
dose for 4 year old
child
Albendazole syrup
dose for 5 year old
child
Albendazole syrup
dose for 6 year old
child
Albendazole syrup
dose for 7 year-old

16. Should albendazole be taken before or after meals for
deworming?
It depends on the type of worm infestation you have –
For intestinal worms before the meal
Suppose you have intestinal worms. In this case, you should take the Albendazole
drug on an empty stomach because you don’t require the medication inside your
blood.
If you take an albendazole empty stomach, it will stay longer in your intestine and
work effectively. After one hour of taking medicine, you can have your meal.
For systemic worms after the meals
If you have parasitic worms in your blood or tissue, such as dog tapeworm, pork
tapeworm, etc. Then, you will require albendazole in your blood.
Generally, albendazole gets rapidly absorbed in your blood with food.
It is always better to take albendazole with a fatty meal (high-fat content) like milk,
paneer, cheese, etc. The absorption of the albendazole drug increases five times
more if you take albendazole with fatty meal.
What to do if pinworms keep coming back?
Suppose your kids are not getting a response from Albendazole even after
administering the second dose. In that case, your doctor may give you ivermectin
medicine with Albendazole.
Ivermectin paralyzes or kills the worms and expels them through stool. It is a
potent anthelmintic agent that helps kill and clear your intestinal worms.

17. The combination of ivermectin and Albendazole drug is usually prescribed in
recurrent or repeated worm infestation. The combimation of ivermectin and
albendazole oral suspension is available in the market with common brands –
● Noworm plus
● Bandy plus
● Bendex plus
● Ivoral forte
● Ibendzole

18. A single dose of ivermectin is enough, and the dose can be repeated if the worm
load is very high.
It is a safe and effective combination. Even a study published in The Lancet, 2021,
has proven the high efficacy of co-administered ivermectin-albendazole over
monotherapy of Albendazole.
Conclusion
We have discussed about albendazole medication and the correct albendazole dose
for kids in different age group in infants, toddlers/preschool aged children, school
aged children, etc.
Albendazole is a well-tolerated and highly effective anthelmintic drug in children
and adults too.
It is an absolutely safe drug as Albendazole has minimum side effects.
The biggest advantage of the albendazole drug is single-dose administration
because a single dose is sufficient for its effectiveness. So, there is no need to
repeat the medicine.

19. It is only an informative article. So, you should take this medicine under proper
medical supervision because Albendazole is a schedule H drug (or prescription
drug).
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FAQ
Q 1. Can I take Paracetamol and albendazole together?
There is no such interaction between paracetamol and Albendazole. So, you may
take these drugs together by consulting with your doctor.
Q 2. Is it safe to take Albendazole during pregnancy?
Albendazole has shown embryotoxicity in animal studies. So, it should be avoided
in pregnancy.
Q 3. Which is better albendazole or mebendazole?
Both drugs are well-tolerated and effective. But in many studies, Albendazole has
shown more effectiveness than mebendazole.
Q 4. Is one tablet of albendazole enough?
Yes. Albendazole is highly effective drug for parasites even at single dose. You
don’t need to give another albendazole dose unless doctors prescribe.
Q 5. Will I see worms in my stool after taking albendazole?

20. After taking albendazole, it is possible to see dead or expelled worms in the stool,
especially if you are being treated for a parasitic infection such as a tapeworm,
roundworm, hookworm, or whipworm. However, not seeing worms in your stool
do not necessarily mean that the medication has not been effective.