1 May 2026Oral drugsSource update: November 2023
Diethylcarbamazine = DEC oral
Diethylcarbamazine guidance for lymphatic filariasis, with staged dose escalation and severe co-infection precautions.
Prescription under medical supervision
This guide page is for structured reference only and does not replace a clinician, pharmacist, or emergency review. Dose choice, route choice, interactions, and safety decisions still need professional judgment.
Therapeutic action
Anthelminthic (antifilarial).
Indications
Lymphatic filariasis.
Forms and strengths
- 100 mg breakable tablet.
Dose
- Child under 10 years: 0.5 mg/kg on D1, then increase the dose gradually over 3 days to 1 mg/kg 3 times daily.
- Child over 10 years and adult: 1 mg/kg on D1, then increase the dose gradually over 3 days to 2 mg/kg 3 times daily.
Duration
- W. bancrofti: 12 days.
- B. malayi and B. timori: 6 to 12 days.
Contra-indications, adverse effects, precautions
- Do not administer to patients with onchocerciasis or heavy Loa loa microfilaraemia, to infants, older patients, or patients with heart or renal diseases.
- Do not administer during acute attacks because of the risk of severe reactions.
- Administer with caution in patients with a history of seizures.
- May cause nausea, vomiting, headache, dizziness, drowsiness, fever, joint pain, urticaria, transient haematuria, subcutaneous nodules, lymphangitis, and localized oedema.
- In patients with associated onchocerciasis, severe ocular damage may occur.
- In patients with associated loiasis, encephalitis can occur if Loa loa microfilaraemia is high.
- Reduce dosage in patients with renal impairment.
- Pregnancy: contraindicated; treatment may be deferred until after delivery.
- Breast-feeding: not recommended.
Source
MSF Essential drugs practical guidelines (January 2026)
This page reproduces the structured reference information for this batch while leaving out the Storage and Remarks sections.
Rate this guide
Be the first to rate this guide.