Under what circumstances can adults take deworming medication?

Adults with intestinal parasitic infections may take anthelmintic (deworming) medication.

Generally, adults possess stronger immune resistance and rarely require deworming treatment. However, poor dietary hygiene in daily life may lead to parasitic infection. When infected, patients may experience symptoms including loss of appetite, perianal pruritus, white spots on fingernails, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and mild diarrhea. Some individuals may also develop weight loss, sallow complexion, anemia, or delayed growth and development. If these symptoms occur, it is recommended to visit a reputable hospital for stool examination. If parasites are detected, anthelmintic therapy—such as mebendazole tablets or albendazole tablets—may be prescribed under medical supervision to effectively eliminate various intestinal parasites, including hookworms, pinworms, and whipworms.

Anthelmintics are best taken on an empty stomach (i.e., before meals), when intestinal parasites are in a fasting state; this enhances drug efficacy by directly paralyzing the parasites, facilitating their expulsion from the body.