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Improvements in appetite and growth in helminth-infected schoolboys three and seven weeks after a single dose of pyrantel pamoate

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 April 2009

V. Hadju
Affiliation:
Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
L. S. Stephenson*
Affiliation:
Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
K. Abadi
Affiliation:
School of Medicine, Hasanuddin University, Ujung Pandang, 90245, Indonesia
H. O. Mohammed
Affiliation:
College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
D. D. Bowman
Affiliation:
College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
R. S. Parker
Affiliation:
Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
*
*Corresponding author: Danish Centre for Experimental Parasitology, The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Bulowsvej 13-DK-1870, Frederiksberg CDenmark. Tel + 45 35 28 27 75. Fax + 45 35 28 27 74.

Summary

Appetite and growth were studied in primary schoolboys (6–10 years) infected with Ascaris lumbricoides (86%) and Trichuris trichiura (100%) who received a single dose of pyrantel pamoate (which has little or no effect on Trichuris trichiura ) or a placebo. Boys were examined, allocated at random by descending Ascaris egg count to pyrantel (PR, n = 36) or placebo (PL, n = 36) groups, treated, and re-examined 3 and 7 weeks later. The 2 groups did not differ significantly before treatment in helminth infections, appetite, or growth. Three and 7 weeks after treatment, the PR group exhibited significantly greater increases than did the PL group in weight (0·2 kg and 0·4 kg more, respectively) and percentage weight-for-age (0·6% and 1·7% points more, respectively). Appetite increased significantly in the PR group at 3 and 7 weeks (P < 0·0005 and P < 0·01, respectively) but not in the PL group. The prevalence and intensity of A. lumbricoides infection were greatly reduced in the PR group at 3 and 7 weeks (both P < 0·0001) but not in the PL group. We conclude that treatment with pyrantel pamoate may improve appetite and growth in schoolchildren in areas where A. lumbricoides infections and poor growth are highly prevalent.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1996

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