title: Comparison of albendazole and levamisole chemotherapy on prevalence and intensity of common soil-transmitted helminth infections in school children, Sierra Leone.
abstract: A comparison of two studies performed in Sierra Leone on the effect of anthelmintic, chemotherapy, levamisole, albendazole or a placebo in children aged 6 to 10 years on the prevalence and intensity of common soil transmitted helminths (S-THs) infections is presented. In total 501 children were screened, and 394 successfully follow-up. At baseline their overall prevalence and intensity (epg) of Ascaris, Necator and Trichuris were 34% (2,877), 22% (284) and 39% (266) respectively. At baseline there was no significant difference in the intensity of S-THs infections in the different treatment groups but the prevalence of Necator was significantly higher in the levamisole than the albendazole group (p < 0.05). At follow-up both albendazole and levamisole significantly reduced prevalence and intensity of Ascaris and Trichuris. Only albendazole significantly reduced those of Necator. The placebo group had no significant change in prevalence but a significant increase in intensity of all S-THs.
authors.affiliation: St. Andrews Clinics for Children, Freetown, Sierra Leone.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Koroma
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hodges
mesh_terms: D015766:Albendazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000969:Antinematodal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006373:Helminthiasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D007978:Levamisole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010270:Parasite Egg Count; D015995:Prevalence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012807:Sierra Leone; D012987:Soil / Q000469:parasitology*; D013334:Students
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics; D000969:Antinematodal Agents; D012987:Soil; D007978:Levamisole; D015766:Albendazole