title: Six-monthly de-worming in infants to study effects on growth.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of six monthly albendazole (ABZ) for improving the weight and height of preschool children when initiated at 0.5-1 year of age in populations with a high transmission rate of intestinal roundworm, Ascaris lumbricoides. It was a cluster randomized trial in the urban slums of Lucknow, North India.
  
  
  METHODS
  Control children received 2 ml (1 ml to infants) of Vitamin A every six month whereas those in the ABZ areas received, in addition, 400 mg of ABZ suspension (Zentel, SKB) every six month. Sixty-three and sixty-one slum areas were randomized to albendazole (ABZ) or to control groups, respectively. Children aged 0.5-1 year were recruited in April 1996 and followed up for 1.5 years. Of 1022 children recruited from control and 988 from ABZ areas, the loss to follow-up at 1.5 year was 15.6% and 14.6% respectively. Mean (+/- SE) weight gain in Kg in control versus ABZ areas was 3.04 (0.03) versus 3.22 (0.03), (p = 0.01).
  
  
  RESULTS
  After controlling for the presence of weight-for age z-score < -2.00 at enrollment in the ordinary least square's regression model, the extra weight gain in 1.5 years in those who received ABZ plus vitamin A was 0.13 Kg (95% CI: 0.004 to 0.26 Kg., p value = 0.043) when compared to those who received only vitamin A; underweight children at enrollment benefiting more than the normal ones.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It was concluded that there was an improvement in weight with six monthly ABZ over 1.5 years. However, a much larger trial would be needed to determine whether there is any net effect of improvement in weight on under five mortality rate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics and Clinical Epidemiology Unit, King George's Medical College, Lucknow, India. sawasthi@sancharnet.in
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Awasthi
authors.forename: V K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Pande
mesh_terms: D015766:Albendazole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001196:Ascariasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017164:Ascaris lumbricoides; D001827:Body Height / Q000187:drug effects; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D015362:Child Nutrition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007223:Infant; D007226:Infant Mortality; D016018:Least-Squares Analysis; D008297:Male; D011204:Poverty Areas; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics; D014801:Vitamin A; D015766:Albendazole