Strategy | STH Overview | STH Control | Mebendazole | Focus on Children

Deworming treatment on a regular basis is an important component of the strategy to control STH. Johnson & Johnson (J&J) is donating mebendazole to treat STH in infected and at-risk children around the world. Deworming reduces the intensity of infection in affected individuals and reduces the prevalence of individuals with high-intensity infections, which are most at risk of serious illness and most likely to transmit infection to others.

Mebendazole belongs to the family of medicines called anthelmintics (pronounced: ant-hel-MIN-tiks), which are used in the treatment of STH. Mebendazole works by disrupting the intestinal system of the worm, which eventually causes its death and elimination from the patient’s own intestinal system.

Mebendazole is safe, efficacious and is easy to administer – one single 500 mg tablet by mouth is all that is needed to treat children 12 months and older. This treatment is needed once or twice a year depending on the prevalence and intensity of infection in the community.