Can taking deworming medication cause fever?

Fever may occur after taking deworming medication, but it may not happen either—it depends on the patient's physical condition.

1. Yes

If a patient generally has poor physical health and weak disease resistance, fever might develop after taking deworming drugs. This is mainly because deworming medications often significantly irritate the gastrointestinal tract, potentially causing abnormal symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, and diarrhea. These conditions could worsen gastrointestinal infections, leading to fever. Additionally, fever might result from pre-existing conditions such as a cold or other illnesses coinciding with the administration of the deworming drug.

2. No

Commonly used deworming drugs in clinical practice include mebendazole, albendazole, and levamisole, which are primarily prescribed for treating various parasitic infections such as hookworm, whipworm, roundworm, and pinworm infestations. If a patient is in good physical condition, complications like colds or gastrointestinal infections rarely occur after taking deworming medication, so fever usually does not develop. However, mild side effects such as nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea may appear, which typically subside gradually as the drug is metabolized and eliminated from the body.