Relative Efficacy of Two Regimens of Ante-helminthic Treatment
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2008-05-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
The most common soil transmitted helminthic infections(STHI) includes infection with Ascaris
lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, and Hookworm. Growth retardation, malnutrition, anemia,
impaired cognitive function and immunosuppression are main manifestations in children. Even
within the developing world, wide differences exist in prevalence rates. The poorest
countries have higher levels of STHI than those with a lower incidence of poverty. According
to an estimate made by the WHO, the prevalence of A. lumbricoides, T. trichiura and Hookworm
in South Asia was 27%, 20% and 16% respectively. Given that the prevalence of STHI in urban
slums in Bangladesh is much higher than the other parts of the world and Asia and that there
are major health and socio-economic consequences of such infections, it is important that we
come up with effective means of reducing the prevalence of such infections. 60-80% of
preschool children in urban slums of Bangladesh are infected with these STHI due to poor
hygiene . At present deworming at six months interval is recommended but the effectiveness of
this regimen of dewormig is questionable.
2. Hypothesis: Ante-helminthic treatment at every three month is more effective than
ante-helminthic treatment at every six months to reduce soil transmitted helminthic
infection, to reduce diarrheal and respiratory illness to improve nutritional status in
preschool children.
3.Objective: The main objectives of the proposed study is to compare the relative efficacy of
two different ante-helminthic treatment regimens to reduce the prevalence of STHI, diarrheal
diseases, respiratory illness and to improve nutritional status in children 4. Design: The
population of the study will be preschool children aged 2-5 year and will be selected
randomly from an urban of Dhaka. They will be divided into two groups randomly. One group
will get ante-helminthic at every three months interval and the other groups will get at six
months interval for one year. Stool samples will be collected at the baseline and after three
months completing one-year treatment of the above mentioned regimen. Blood haemoglobulin and
nutritional status will also be measured at baseline and after three months of completion of
treatment as mentioned above. The treatment will be 400 mg of Albendazole in a single dose.
5. Potential Impact: The findings of the research can be implemented by the government and
non-government organization.
Phase:
N/A
Details
Lead Sponsor:
International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh