This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
Child growth, parasite prevalence unaffected by deworming treatment
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
Children in Peru treated with deworming medication for the prevention of intestinal worm-derived infections experienced similar growth as children given a placebo, according to research in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases.
“[Our study] draws attention to the research gap on the benefits of deworming in early childhood,” Theresa W. Gyorkos, PhD, of the department of epidemiology, biostatistics and occupational health at McGill University, Montreal, told Infectious Diseases in Children. “While statistically significant differences in weight and length measures 1 year later were not observed between the intervention groups compared to the placebo group, the trial results nonetheless suggest that there may be some benefit to deworming earlier rather than later (ie, at 12 months rather than at 18 months).”
Theresa W. Gyorkos
The researchers conducted a randomized double blind, placebo-controlled study of 1,563 children aged younger than 24 months from Iquitos, Peru, between 2011 and 2013. The cohort contained four groups: group 1 received a deworming treatment at 12 months and placebo at 18 months; group 2 received placebo at 12 months and deworming treatment at 18 months; group 3 received deworming treatments at both visits; and group 4 received placebo at both visits.
Study results showed there was no statistically significant difference in the growth of children recorded in any of the study groups
The researchers also reported that the overall amount of intestinal worms increased from 14.5% at the beginning of the study period, to 42.6% 1 year later. They noted that while the prevalence of infections caused by roundworm and hookworm were not significantly different between groups, infections caused by whipworm were lower in group 3 patients where double deworming was performed.
“Future research which overcomes the challenges encountered in this trial is urgently needed to accurately assess the benefits in this at-risk child population,” Gyorkos said. “Deworming programs targeting preschool children should consider deworming as of 1 year of age, as recommended by WHO.” – by David Costill
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts