Difetarsone is an

antiprotozoal agent Antiprotozoal agents ( ATC code: ATC P01) is a class of pharmaceuticals used in treatment of protozoan infection. A paraphyletic group, protozoans have little in common with each other. For example, ''Entamoeba histolytica'', a unikont eukaryoti ...

. Various studies have shown it to be particularly effective against ''

Trichuris trichiura ''Trichuris trichiura, Trichocephalus trichiuris'' or whipworm, is a parasitic roundworm (a type of helminth) that causes trichuriasis (a type of helminthiasis which is one of the neglected tropical diseases) when it infects a human large intes ...

'', commonly known as the whipworm. Prior to the drugs use in the early 1970s, there were few effective treatments for this infection. It has also been used to treat

Entamoeba histolytica ''Entamoeba histolytica'' is an anaerobic parasitic amoebozoan, part of the genus ''Entamoeba''. Predominantly infecting humans and other primates causing amoebiasis, ''E. histolytica'' is estimated to infect about 35-50 million people worldwid ...

infections. Difetarsone often has minor side effects, which include rashes, nausea and vomiting. It has also resulted in

angioedema Angioedema is an area of swelling (edema) of the lower layer of skin and tissue just under the skin or mucous membranes. The swelling may occur in the face, tongue, larynx, abdomen, or arms and legs. Often it is associated with hives, which are ...

in at least one known case.

References

Antiprotozoal agents Arsonic acids {{Antiinfective-drug-stub