Control of intestinal helminths in schoolchildren in Low-Napo, Ecuador: impact of a two-year chemotherapy program.
A school-based control program of intestinal helminths was undertaken among schoolchildren in the Low-Napo region, north-eastern Ecuador. Forty-eight percent of children were infected with one or more helminths at the first examination. The prevalence at the baseline was Ascaris 33.2% followed by hookworm 24.1% and Trichuris 6.5%. Sex was found to be a significant factor influencing the prevalence of hookworm and Trichuris. Prevalence was compared 9 months and 18 months after treatment. After 9 months, Ascaris and Trichuris prevalence had decreased but not hookworm. All of them increased after 18 months. The findings suggest that only a course of mebendazol had a minor effect on the control of helminth infections.
San Sebastián
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Instituto de Epidemiología y Salud Comunitaria Manuel Amunarriz, Coca, Orellana, Ecuador. admin@mmcoca.ecuanex.net.ec
Santi
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D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D004484:Ecuador / Q000453:epidemiology; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D006373:Helminthiasis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000208:ethnology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000208:ethnology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015995:Prevalence; D017678:Sex Distribution
D000871:Anthelmintics