Does Fenbendazole Kill Liver Flukes?

Fenbendazole is primarily a veterinary medicine used for parasitic worm infections. Most recently, people started to wonder about Fenbendazole’s efficacy against liver flukes. Given that liver fluke infections are a global issue for humans and animals, there is an online interest regarding this topic.

Does kill liver flukes? Yes, but how completely? As a benzimidazole, Fenbendazole is effective against many gastrointestinal parasites, but the literature suggests its efficacy against liver flukes is much poorer in comparison to specific fluke infection drugs.

What Are Liver Flukes?

Liver flukes are flat parasitic worms which infect the liver, bile ducts, and gall bladder. The primary way people become infected is by consuming contaminated water or by eating undercooked freshwater fish.

Some of the more common species of liver flukes are:

• Fasciola hepatica
• Clonorchis sinensis
• Opisthorchis viverrini

At a global level, there are over 35 million people infected by food-borne flukes. Many more are at risk, especially in some areas in Asia, South America, and Africa which are mostly afflicted with a lack of proper sanitation.

What is Fenbendazole?

Fenbendazole is part of the class of benzimidazole antiparasitics. It’s primarily a veterinary medicine Fenbendazole used for some intestinal helminths like:

• Roundworms
• Hookworms
• Whipworms
• Tapeworms

The drug acts by impairing sugar absorption by the parasite. This results in the parasite starving, weakening, and eventually dying. Fenbendazole’s use in parasite treatment discussions is a result of its wide parasitic spectrum.

Does Fenbendazole Kill Liver Flukes?

Fenbendazole has limited effectiveness on certain immature stages of the parasite, which is why it’s not the primary drug of choice for the treatment of liver flukes.

Physicians and parasitologists opt for other treatments such as:

• Triclabendazole
• Praziquantel
• Albendazole in some cases

These treatments have an advantage as they specifically target liver flukes that are present within the bile ducts and liver tissues.

Why Liver Flukes Are Harder to Treat?

Liver flukes are different from intestinal worms in that they do not remain in the intestines, but rather migrate to the deeper portions of the hepatic system.

This creates a challenge when treating them due to the fact that:

• Flukes occupy sensitive organs
• Some fluke species can remain in the body for several years without treatment
• They can have various forms of protection
• They have a low profile when it comes to presenting symptoms

When not properly treated, chronic liver fluke infections can lead to liver enlargement, bile duct obstructions, and gastrointestinal complications.

In several regions, infection rates can reach above 20% of the populations living in rural communities who consume raw fish.

How Fenbendazole Works in the Body?

Inside the body, Fenbendazole disrupts the cellular structure and metabolism of parasitic cells which in turn eliminates their ability to produce energy. This treatment is usually effective against intestinal worms within several days.

As for liver flukes, they are much more dangerous and resistant because they are able to protect themselves while residing in the liver.

This is the primary reason Fenbendazole by itself is not effective at eliminating serious or advanced cases of liver fluke infections.

Common Symptoms of Liver Flukes

The symptoms of liver fluke infections can differ significantly depending on the degree of severity of the infection.

Here are some common symptoms of liver fluke:

• Pain in abdomen
• Nausea
• Tiredness
• Fever
• Pain or discomfort in the gut
• Loss of appetite
• Enlargement of the liver
• In severe cases, jaundice

It is possible to have liver flukes for months at a time undetected. This is one of the reasons to have liver screen tests done regularly.

Is Fenbendazole Approved for Humans?

Fenbendazole is mainly a veterinary drug, and in the U.S. it is not approved by the FDA for humans.

Aside from the strong social media presence, studies for humans to treat liver flukes using Fenbendazole as a first-line agent are extremely scarce.

With this in mind, it is better to follow anti-parasitic therapy with a given context.

Possible Risks of Incorrect Use

There are a number of risks that can happen as a result of improper use of Fenbendazole, especially if the liver is not healthy to begin with.

• Inadequate and partial removal of parasites
• Extra stress to the liver with possible prolonged irritation
• Potential drug interactions if other drugs are taken
• Gastro-intestinal side effects
• Possible allergic reactions

Self-medication can make the infection worse.

How Doctors Diagnose Liver Flukes?

To make the diagnosis of liver flukes, the doctor will not rely on symptoms alone and will order tests.

• Stool test for parasites
• Blood tests
• Ultrasound
• CT scan
• Liver function tests

Having these tests will help identify the specific parasite and aid in determining treatment.

Prevention of Liver Flukes

It will be easier to prevent liver fluke infections than treat it.

Here are some basic suggestions on how to accomplish this:

1. Do not have raw or lightly cooked fish from fresh water
2. Have water that is clean
3. Vegetables should be washed prior to consumption
4. Maintain good sanitation in the kitchen
5. Avoid water that may be contaminated
6. If there are ongoing digestive symptoms, then see a doctor

This is especially important for people who are traveling to high risk areas. Take food safety precautions.

Conclusions

Does Fenbendazole kill liver flukes? While Fenbendazole can help to some extent against certain life stages of some parasites, it is not typically the preferred option for treating infections of the liver flukes.

Medicines that are tailored for the treatment of infections caused by flukes are more effective and offer greater reliability. It is important to seek professional help, as well as medical tests, prior to beginning treatment for any parasites.

If liver flukes are suspected to be present, do not depend on web-based information it self to treat the condition. There is a greater chance of successfully avoiding serious long-term complications of the liver with the use of medical treatment.