Soil Transmitted Helminths (STH) are among the most common infections in the world today. The
World Health Organization (WHO) recommends mass administration of deworming medicine as a
single routine annual dose to all school age children (SAC)(age 5-16 years) in countries
where prevalence of Soil Transmitted Helminthic Infections (STHI) is > 20% as a safe public
health intervention that promotes healthy growth (Category 2 Recommendation). Pakistan is
classified as a low burden community with a reported prevalence of STHI <50%, however,routine
deworming is not a policy in Pakistan. Currently, Pakistan is also facing a huge burden of
malnutrition in all age groups especially in population belonging to low socioeconomic group.
Incidentally, worm infestation by STH also occurs in this group due to associated lack of
hygiene and poor living conditions. The coexistence of even moderate STH infections can cause
or aggravate malnutrition. The urban slums of Karachi provide environmental, social and
behavioral conditions that favor both STH infections and a risk of under nutrition. It is
unknown if administering routine dose of deworming medicine to SAC as per WHO recommendation
will contribute to improvement in indicators of nutrition status in Pakistani children living
in urban slum conditions by eliminating worm infection.Therefore, this study is being
conducted to determine the effect of deworming on weight of School Age Children aged between
5 to 16 years.
Phase:
N/A
Details
Lead Sponsor:
Dow University of Health Sciences
Treatments:
Albendazole Calcium Calcium, Dietary Ergocalciferols Vitamin D Vitamins