Which medication is effective against ascariasis (giant roundworm)?

Pyrantel pamoate is indeed effective against ascariasis, which is caused by the Ascaris lumbricoides worm, but it is essential to contextualize why the other medications listed are also relevant albeit in different parasitic infections.

Mebendazole and albendazole are two primary medications used to treat a variety of intestinal helminth infections, including ascariasis. They work by inhibiting microtubule synthesis in helminths, leading to immobilization and death of the parasites. While these medications are effective, pyrantel pamoate presents a different mechanism by causing paralysis of the worms and promoting their expulsion through peristalsis, making it suitable as well.

Praziquantel is effective against trematodes and certain cestodes, such as schistosomes and tapeworms, but it is not the drug of choice for ascariasis specifically. It operates through increasing the permeability of the cell membrane of the parasites to calcium ions, leading to muscle contraction and paralysis, which is not indicated for roundworms.

In conclusion, while pyrantel pamoate is effective against ascariasis, mebendazole and albendazole are also commonly used for this infection. Each medication has its