The impact of population level deworming on the haemoglobin levels of schoolchildren in Tanga,Tanzania

This document presents the effect of population level deworming on the hemoglobin levels of schoolchildren in Tanga Tanzania. This study included a house-to-house survey in September 1994 which was able to administer a single dose of 400 mg albendazole and praziquantel (a dose of 40 mg/kg body weight). Another group was given placebos (magnesium sulfate and cellulose) according to the presence of anemia (hemoglobin concentration 5000 epg) or light (<5000 epg) hookworm egg load. Anthelminthic treatment was observed to have a beneficial impact on the hemoglobin levels of the treated population during a period of general decline in mean hemoglobin compared with the placebo group (-0.11 g/dl vs. -0.35 g/dl; P = 0.02). Anthelminthic treatment was of significant hematologic benefit to 9% anemic children and was an effective means of reducing the problem of low hemoglobin levels associated with cognitive impairment delayed learning ability physical impairment and disadvantage during hemolytic episodes of malaria and children with heavy and light hookworm egg load. The results of the study suggested that a single-dose anthelminthic treatment would achieve hematological benefits in almost half of children infected with S. hematobium and geohelminths particularly in this population.