Anti-Parasitics

Travel Medicine at Washington Township Medical Foundation

Anti-parasitics are a group of medications that used to treat parasitic diseases.

This includes various conditions and illnesses caused by amoeba, ectoparasites, parasitic fungi, protozoa, and helminths. Your doctor at Washington Township Medical Foundation may prescribe an anti-parasitic for certain conditions. There are oral, intravenous, and topical applications. An internist can explain these drugs, their benefits and possible side effects, and provide you with clear instructions for use.

Parasites affect about 2 billion people worldwide, according to some estimates. Fairly recent developments in the study and production of anti-parasitic medications has expanded the usefulness, safety, and effectiveness of these drugs. Anti-parasitic therapy has been expanded to treat malaria using artemisinin-based treatments, along with new medications designed to treat helminths transmitted through soil as well as intestinal protozoa. There are also new developments in treatments for patients who suffer from Chagas disease.

Anti-Parasitics in the United States

Due to cleaner living conditions and better water sources, people in the United States are less likely to experience parasitic infections. It is important to be aware of risks when traveling, however. Speak with your doctor about travel medicine if you are going to a tropical region or other parts of the world.

Common examples of parasitic infections include:

• Ascariasis
• Hookworm disease
• Toxoplasmosis
• Trichomoniasis