Ascaris and Trichuris do not contribute to growth retardation in primary school children.
To access the effectiveness of the treatment of soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH) on the growth of primary school children, 353 children were block stratified to receive either mebendazole plus pyrantel oxantel pamoate every three months or a placebo. The children were followed for two years with 89% completing the trial. Follow-up stools indicated that the treatment was efficacious for ascariasis and trichuriasis. There was virtually no hookworm infection. The children were malnourished as measured by the number below -2 SD of height and weight standards. There was no difference in height or weight between the treatment and control groups by sex initially or at the end of two years of follow-up. The treatment of Ascaris and Trichuris had no effect on growth parameters. The effect of STH on growth may be mediated through hookworm infections.
Lai
K P
KP
Institute for Medical Research, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Kaur
H
H
Mathias
R G
RG
Ow-Yang
C K
CK
D001196:Ascariasis / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D010270:Parasite Egg Count; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D014257:Trichuriasis / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy