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The use of deworming drugs for pregnant women was once considered taboo. However, a new generation of dewormers can help pregnant women get rid of these parasites without harming the baby.
1. Is there a dewormer for pregnant women?
Currently there are about 2 billion people infected with helminths with 300 million severely affected. Pregnant women make up a large proportion of these. Long-term helminth infections can cause malnutrition, iron deficiency, anemia or liver and lung diseases...
Previously, the use of deworming drugs for pregnant women was considered impossible, because doubts about the safety as well as the benefits of the treatment for mother and baby.
However, now there are many types of deworming drugs for pregnant women that are very safe and effective if used as prescribed by a doctor. Deworming drugs for pregnant women include:
Dewormer Praziquantel is classified in group B in the list of safe deworming drugs for pregnant women. This drug has been tested in both humans and animals to evaluate its safety in pregnancy. Mebendazol: A very commonly used dewormer that has also been tested at a dose of 100 mg/day for 3 consecutive days in pregnant women, including those in the first 3 months of pregnancy. The results of the trial did not find any abnormalities in the pregnancy. Thus, at usual therapeutic doses, Mebendazol is considered safe for pregnant women. Albendazol: This is a derivative of the Benzimidazole group, capable of causing teratogenicity in animals when used in high doses. But in some human studies, it was safe for pregnant women when taken in usual doses. As with some other anthelmintics, such as Levamisol or Pyrantel, there is not enough information available on their safety in pregnant women. Therefore, pregnant women should not arbitrarily use deworming drugs without a doctor's prescription.
2. When do pregnant women need deworming?
In areas where schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted worms are endemic, the benefits of helminth treatment for pregnant women outweigh the risks to the mother and fetus.
According to the World Health Organization, the use of deworming drugs in pregnant women is considered a public health intervention in areas:
There is an initial prevalence of hookworm or T. trichiura infection above 20% pregnant women; The burden of hookworm and T. trichiura infections needs to be reduced in settings where anemia is a serious health problem, with pregnancy rates above 40%. A suggestion from the Maternal and Child Health and Education Trust for the dosage of Mebendazol or Albendazol dewormers is as follows:
The first dose in pregnancy from 4 to 6 months; The second dose during pregnancy from the 7th - 9th month; Do not use deworming drugs during the first 3 months of pregnancy.
3. Note for pregnant women when taking deworming pills
During pregnancy, if you notice any health problems, you need to see a doctor for proper treatment. In addition, regular check-ups for the doctor to closely monitor the health status before and after treatment.
In addition to using deworming drugs during pregnancy when required, pregnant women should improve their health and keep their body clean to reduce the infection of worms. Attention should be paid to hand hygiene before eating and after going to the toilet, ensure food hygiene, do not go barefoot,...
In general, deworming drugs for pregnant women are still controversial issues. argue. If the pregnant mother has a severe worm infection, she still has to take medicine as prescribed by the doctor, and continue to have antenatal check-ups to monitor the health of the mother and the baby.
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