Antiparasitic therapy uses medications that combat parasitic infections by destroying the parasites or inhibiting their growth, delivered orally, intravenously or topically. The drugs address infections from helminths, amoebae, ectoparasites, parasitic fungi and protozoa, among other organisms, and while some broad-spectrum agents work across multiple parasite classes, most antiparasitics are effective against only a specific group. Major categories include antiprotozoals, used against single-celled parasites such as those causing sleeping sickness or trichomoniasis; anthelmintics, used against roundworms, tapeworms and flukes; and antiamoebics, used against amoebic infections, with drugs such as metronidazole, mebendazole, praziquantel and nitazoxanide among the most widely used examples.
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Treats
Antiparasitic therapy (albendazole class) is a standard treatment for echinococcosis.
Antiparasitic therapy is the standard treatment for foodborne trematodiasis.
Antiparasitic therapy (e.g. metronidazole class) is the standard treatment for giardiasis.
Antiparasitic therapy is the standard treatment for taeniasis.
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