What is the dose of niclosamide used in treatment of Taenia saginata infection in children?
Niclosamide Niclosamide is a highly effective drug against cestodes infesting man-Taenia saginata, T. solium, Diphyllobothrium latum and Hymenolepis nana, as well as threadworm. The drug appears to act by inhibiting oxidative phosphorylation in mitochondria and interfering with anaerobic generation of ATP by the tapeworm. Niclosamide is available as 0.5 g tab (NICLOSAN). After a light breakfast, 2 tablets are to be chewed and swallowed with water, followed by another 2 tablets after 1 hr (total 2 g); total dose for children 2-6 years is 1 g. A saline purge is given 2 hours after the later dose to wash off the worm.The scolex should be searched in the stools to be sure that the worm will not grow again. Cure rate of 85-95% has been obtained by one day treatment. A thorough purge is essential in the cases of T. solium so that all segments are passed out and cysticercosis does not occur. Because praziquantel does not lead to digestion of the worm and kills encysted larvae as weU, it is the drug of choice for T. solium ESSENTIALS OF MEDICAL PHARMACOLOGY K.D.TRIPATHI SIXTH EDITION PAGE NO:814
40 mg\/kg single dose
40 mg \/ kg\/ day for 3 days
40 mg\/kg\/day for 7 days
40 mg \/kg \/day for 21 days
Chemotherapy