View clinical trials related to Soil Transmitted Helminths.
Filter by:Lymphatic Filariasis (LF), scabies and soil transmitted helminths (STH) are common neglected tropical diseases affecting the people of Fiji. There is a dedicated LF eradication program supported by the World Health Organization (WHO), however scabies and STH are currently managed on an individual level with symptomatic treatment as required. In an attempt to reduce the prevalence of LF globally, research is being undertaken into alternative, more effective treatment options. A recent study in Papua New Guinea demonstrated a new triple drug therapy (ivermectin, diethylcarbamazine and albendazole) is superior to the currently recommended two drug therapy (diethylcarbamazine and albendazole) used by WHO LF programs in the Pacific. However, adverse events were more frequent. Despite no serious adverse events being observed, it is necessary to conduct further studies to review the safety of this new triple therapy before it can be endorsed as an effective mass drug administration (MDA) regimen for LF in endemic countries. Fiji's burden of LF, that has been recalcitrant to previous MDA with diethylcarbamazine and albendazole, make it an ideal site to obtain further efficacy and safety data of the triple therapy. Ivermectin given to communities as MDA has been proven to be effective in reducing the community prevalence of scabies. What is not known is the effects of one dose versus two doses of ivermectin as MDA. This question will be reviewed within the design of the community randomized study. The prevalence of impetigo in a community is linked to scabies and this will also be reviewed. Ivermectin and albendazole are both effective individually against STH. The effectiveness of this combination of treatment as MDA in Fiji for STH has not been studied. The effectiveness for the individual in the short-term and the community in the longer-term will be reviewed. In addition, the acceptability and feasibility of the new therapy in communities at risk of these three diseases will be reviewed.
Soil Transmitted Helminths (STH) are among the most common infections in the world today. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends mass administration of deworming medicine as a single routine annual dose to all school age children (SAC)(age 5-16 years) in countries where prevalence of Soil Transmitted Helminthic Infections (STHI) is > 20% as a safe public health intervention that promotes healthy growth (Category 2 Recommendation). Pakistan is classified as a low burden community with a reported prevalence of STHI <50%, however,routine deworming is not a policy in Pakistan. Currently, Pakistan is also facing a huge burden of malnutrition in all age groups especially in population belonging to low socioeconomic group. Incidentally, worm infestation by STH also occurs in this group due to associated lack of hygiene and poor living conditions. The coexistence of even moderate STH infections can cause or aggravate malnutrition. The urban slums of Karachi provide environmental, social and behavioral conditions that favor both STH infections and a risk of under nutrition. It is unknown if administering routine dose of deworming medicine to SAC as per WHO recommendation will contribute to improvement in indicators of nutrition status in Pakistani children living in urban slum conditions by eliminating worm infection.Therefore, this study is being conducted to determine the effect of deworming on weight of School Age Children aged between 5 to 16 years.