hookworm Rx

Q: 54 years old construction worker is admitted to ICU with lower GI bleed. Subsequent workup lead to the diagnosis of hookworm infestation. What is the treatment? 

Answer: There are three options to treat hookworm infestation

• albendazole 400 mg once on an empty stomach 
• Mebendazole 100 mg twice daily for three days (can be give as a single dose of 500 mg) 
• pyrantel pamoate, 11 mg/kg per day for three days, max - 1 g/day 

Contrary to popular belief, Ivermectin is not an effective treatment for hookworm infestation. 

#ID 

#GI 

References: 

1. Chhabra P, Bhasin DK. Hookworm-Induced Obscure Overt Gastrointestinal Bleeding. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2017; 15:e161. 

2. Wei KY, Yan Q, Tang B, et al. Hookworm Infection: A Neglected Cause of Overt Obscure Gastrointestinal Bleeding. Korean J Parasitol 2017; 55:391. 

3. Moser W, Schindler C, Keiser J. Efficacy of recommended drugs against soil transmitted helminths: systematic review and network meta-analysis. BMJ 2017; 358:j4307.