17 ANTHELMINTICS.
Drugs with a major effect of expelling or poisoning parasites are called
anthelmintics. Anthelmintics are indicated for diseases caused by parasites
in the intestines, such as ascariasis, enterobiasis, cestodiasis and ancylostomiasis.
Anthelmintics should be selected for specific parasites and supplemented
with other types of suitable drugs according to the actual condition. In
cases accompaned with food stagnation, drugs for improving digestion and
removing the stagnation should be added; in cases with concomitant constipation,
purgatives should be given as well to help expel the parasites; if the
disease is complicated by deficiency of the spleen and stomach, drugs for
strengthening them should be prescribed in addition to the anthelmintics.
Attention should be paid as follows: in using anthelmintics, administration
of the drug on an empty stomach to ensure better effects; right dosage
of poisonous drugs; temporary suspension of the drug in case of fever and
severe abdominal pain; administration with caution for pregnant women,
the aged and weak.