The impact of three-monthly age-targetted chemotherapy on Ascaris lumbricoides infection.

The impact of 3 chemotherapeutic regimens at 3-monthly intervals against Ascaris lumbricoides infection, targetted at under 15 years old children with and without initial mass chemotherapy, and at 2-12 years old children, was studied in three Myanmar [Burmese] rural communities over a period of 2 years. Computation was made of prevalence and intensity (worm burden) of Ascaris infection, and other parameters for estimation of basic reproductive rate (R0) of the parasite and of the proportion of target age group to be treated 3-monthly (g) by employing the mathematical model for targetted chemotherapy. The 3 treatment regimens were almost equally effective in reducing prevalence and intensity in both the targetted and non-targetted age groups.

A controlled chemotherapeutic intervention trial on the relationship between Ascaris lumbricoides infection and malnutrition in children.

A 2-year investigation, consisting of a controlled, non-blind, 3-monthly chemotherapeutic intervention trial, based on transmission dynamics of Ascaris lumbricoides infection, was undertaken to prove or refute the role of A. lumbricoides as a contributor to childhood malnutrition. The study involved 1206 children aged 2-12 years in 21 villages in Myanmar [Burma] starting in August 1984.

Role of ascariasis in surgical abdominal emergencies in the Rangoon Children's Hospital, Burma.

Patients aged 1 month to 12 years admitted with an acute abdominal surgical condition comprising 226 cases with and 206 cases without ascariasis, recorded in the operation theatre registers and in-patients clinical sheets, were studied in relation to morbidity, duration of operation and hospital stay and mortality. Annually, 7.5% of laparotomies were due to complications of ascariasis.

Control of ascariasis through age-targeted chemotherapy: impact of 6-monthly chemotherapeutic regimens.

A field trial of 6-monthly ascariasis chemotherapeutic regimens targeted at 1-19-, 1-14-, and 5-19-year-olds was carried out in three communities in rural Myanmar to observe the effects on the prevalence, intensity, and morbidity indicators over 2 years. After periodic chemotherapy, the prevalence and intensity of Ascaris infection in age-targeted and non-age-targeted groups fell in all the study areas, more markedly among the 1-19- and 1-14-year-olds. There was also a decrease in the frequency of vomiting of worms, passing of worms per anus, coughing, abdominal pain and treatment of bowel complaints, especially among the treated groups.