The Case for Mass Treatment of Intestinal Helminths in Endemic Areas.
Two articles published earlier this year in the International Journal of Epidemiology [1,2] have re-ignited the debate over the World Health Organization's long-held recommendation of mass-treatment of intestinal helminths in endemic areas. In this note, we discuss the content and relevance of these articles to the policy debate, and review the broader research literature on the educational and economic impacts of deworming. We conclude that existing evidence still indicates that mass deworming is a cost-effective health investment for governments in low-income countries where worm infections are widespread.
Center for Effective Global Action, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States of America.
Joan Hamory
JH
Hicks
Department of Economics, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America.
Michael
M
Kremer
Center for Effective Global Action, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States of America.
Edward
E
Miguel
D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004358:Drug Therapy / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D014943:Global Health; D006291:Health Policy; D006373:Helminthiasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014944:World Health Organization
D000871:Anthelmintics