Albendazole pediatric dose calculator

Use this Albendazole pediatric dose calculator to match the prescribed child dose to the exact liquid, tablet, or capsule strength before you give it.

Weight (in lbs)

Enter the patient weight in the selected unit.

Weight Unit

Select the unit used for the patient weight.

Medication

Select a medication from your visible list.

Strength

Select the strength of Albendazole

Frequency (2 times per day)

Select how many doses are prescribed per day.

Course: 8 days

Select the prescribed course length in days.

Dosage Amount: 15 mg/kg/day (Neurocysticercosis / hydatid disease (specialist))

Choose the dose written on the prescription. These options are not a recommendation for your child.

Worms (roundworm, hookworm, pinworm): 400 mg once, NOT mg/kg; whipworm 400 mg daily for 3 days; strongyloides 400 mg twice daily for 7 days (CDC alternative); age 12–23 months or under 10 kg: 200 mg (WHO/MSF). Pinworm: repeat in 2 weeks (CDC).
mg/kg dosing is only for neurocysticercosis/hydatid disease under specialist care: 60 kg and up 400 mg twice daily (label).
Hydatid: 28-day cycles, 14 days off, 3 cycles (label). Neurocysticercosis 8–30 days (label); IDSA 2017 uses 10–14 days, up to 1,200 mg/day.
Not for infants under 6 months (MSF). Take with food for tissue infections.

By using the "Calculate Dose" button on pedscalc.com, you acknowledge and agree that while our calculations aim for accuracy, final prescription responsibility lies solely with you, the healthcare provider. pedscalc.com and its operators are not liable for any errors or omissions, or for the results obtained from the use of this information. Always verify calculations and exercise professional judgment.

dose calculator basics

Albendazole pediatric dose calculator details

Use this Albendazole calculator as the fast parent page for weight-based dose checks, mL conversion, common strengths, and the practical safety steps that generic calculator sites often skip.

Formula

mL per dose = (child weight in kg x prescribed mg/kg/day / doses per day) / medication concentration in mg per mL.

Worked example

For a 20 kg child using 15 mg/kg/day divided 2 times daily with 200 mg/5 mL, calculate the daily mg target, divide by the schedule, then convert that mg amount into mL for the selected product.

Use case

Dosing focus

Practical check

Weight-based dose check

Common calculator choices include 15 mg/kg/day or mg/kg targets depending on the prescription.

Confirm the prescription's dose basis before trusting any mL result.

Strength conversion

Common strengths on this page include 200 mg/5 mL.

The same mg target creates a different mL dose when the bottle or tablet strength changes.

Schedule and course

Available schedules include 2, 1 times daily, with course options shown in the calculator.

Match the frequency and duration to the clinician's plan rather than choosing the easiest volume.

Safety checks before using the result

Use the exact product strength in hand before measuring the dose.
Confirm maximum dose, age limits, and indication-specific cautions when they apply.
Escalate urgent symptoms or medication reactions instead of repeating doses from calculator output alone.

Practical dosing guide

Before you measure the dose

Use this page to match the prescribed Albendazole plan to the exact liquid or tablet strength before the first dose.

What it is usually used for: Albendazole is a benzimidazole anthelmintic used to treat intestinal nematodes and tissue cestode infections in children.
Common forms: Common forms include 200 mg tablet, 200 mg chewable tablet, and 40 mg/mL (200 mg/5 mL) suspension (non-US or compounded).
How the schedule is usually written: Many outpatient plans are given once or twice daily.

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Albendazole pediatric medication summary

Albendazole is a benzimidazole anthelmintic used to treat intestinal nematodes and tissue cestode infections in children.

Give albendazole with a high-fat meal (e.g., milk, yogurt, peanut butter sandwich) to boost bioavailability and efficacy, especially for tissue parasites.

Single 400 mg doses treat most soil-transmitted helminths; repeat in 14 days for pinworm or when reinfection risk persists.

Albendazole indications and common pediatric uses

Albendazole treats a wide range of intestinal and tissue helminths.

Ascariasis

Enterobiasis

Hookworm infection

Neurocysticercosis

Hydatid disease

Giardiasis

How to give Albendazole

Administration guidance for pediatric albendazole therapy.
Give with food, ideally a high-fat snack. Crush or chew tablets for younger children. Encourage handwashing and cleaning of bedding to lower reinfection risk.
Double-check the dose when using crush-and-mix techniques. If vomiting occurs within one hour, contact the clinician for repeat dosing guidance.

Albendazole side effects, contraindications, and interactions

Albendazole is generally tolerated well in children, especially for short courses. The side effects families notice most are mild stomach upset, headache, or temporary dizziness. Give doses with food, keep hydration steady, and escalate promptly for severe rash, breathing changes, persistent vomiting, yellowing skin, dark urine, unusual bruising, or blood in stool.

Common side effects

Take each dose with food to improve absorption and reduce GI side effects.
Use same-day clinician follow-up for persistent abdominal pain, repeated vomiting, jaundice, or severe fatigue.
For prolonged therapy, pre-plan liver and CBC monitoring rather than waiting for symptoms.

Safety checks

Documented hypersensitivity to albendazole, mebendazole, or formulation excipients
Pregnancy during the first trimester unless treating life-threatening infection
Baseline absolute neutrophil count <1.0 x 10^9/L or severe bone marrow suppression
Chronic liver disease or AST/ALT >2x baseline
Breastfeeding (metabolites detected in milk)
Use of strong CYP-inducing anticonvulsants (carbamazepine, phenytoin, phenobarbital)

Drug interactions

Review the full medication list with a clinician or pharmacist before combining therapies.

Albendazole mechanism and clinical pearls

Albendazole is a broad-spectrum benzimidazole anthelmintic. After hepatic conversion to albendazole sulfoxide, it selectively disrupts microtubules in helminths, impairing nutrient uptake and energy metabolism.

Albendazole exposure rises two- to five-fold when paired with a fatty meal (whole milk, avocado toast, nut butter). Encourage families to plan the dose alongside a specific snack rather than relying on chance.

Pinworm and hookworm regimens often require a second dose 14 days later. Book reminders or nurse callbacks during the first visit so the repeat dose is not forgotten.

Hydatid disease and neurocysticercosis regimens (28 days on/14 off) require AST/ALT and CBC every 2 weeks to catch hepatotoxicity or leukopenia early.

For enterobiasis, simultaneous treatment of household contacts plus morning bathing and hot laundry helps reduce recurrence.

Frequently asked questions about Albendazole

Fat increases the amount of active medicine your child absorbs. Offer the dose with milk, yogurt, peanut butter, avocado, or a small serving of ice cream. If your child is tube-fed, ask your clinician about mixing the crushed tablet with a lipid-containing formula bolus.

If vomiting occurs within one hour, call the clinic. Your clinician may instruct you to repeat the dose. Note the time, symptoms, and any other medicines given so the team can adjust the plan.

Often yes. Albendazole works best when close contacts take the same dose on the same day and repeat it two weeks later. Combine treatment with handwashing, morning showers, new underwear daily, and hot-water laundry for bedding and towels.

Abdominal pain and diarrhea usually improve within a few days for intestinal infections. Skin rashes from cutaneous larva migrans fade in 2–3 days. Tissue infections may take weeks to months—your clinician will schedule follow-up labs and imaging to track progress.

Call immediately for yellow skin or eyes, dark urine, severe abdominal pain, easy bruising, unusual bleeding, fever with sore throat, or new seizures or headaches during neurocysticercosis treatment.

Yes, once the first dose is given and hygiene steps are in place. Inform teachers about bathroom reminders and emphasize handwashing before snacks or lunch.

Albendazole is not recommended in the first trimester and should only be used later in pregnancy if the benefits outweigh risks. Breastfeeding is generally considered compatible with short courses, but always discuss with your obstetrician or pediatrician.

Sources reviewed for Albendazole

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/soil-transmitted-helminth-infections
https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/pinworm/treatment.html
https://www.who.int/pct/soil_transmitted_helminth_infections/en/
https://academic.oup.com/cid/article/73/5/e362/6279788
https://www.who.int/echinococcosis
https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/giardia/health_professionals/index.html

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