Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-tj2md Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-18T23:46:01.549Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

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

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Adams, E. J., Stephenson, L. S., Latham, M. C. & Kinoti, S. N. (1994). Physical activity and growth of Kenyan schoolchildren with hookworm, Trichuris trichiura, and Ascaris lumbricoides infections are improved after treatment with albendazole. Journal of Nutrition 124, 11991206.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Anderson, N., Blake, R. & Titchen, D. (1976). Effects of a series of infections of Ostertagia circumcincta on gastric secretion of sheep. Parasitology 72, 112.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Brown, K. H., Gilman, R. H., Khatum, M. & Ahmed, M. G. (1980). Absorption of macronutrients from a rice-vegetable diet before and after treatment of ascariasis in children. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 33, 19751982.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Crompton, D. W. T. (1992). Ascariasis and childhood malnutrition. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 86, 148152.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Crompton, D. W. T., Singhvi, A., Nesheim, M. C. & Walters, D. E. (1981). Competition for dietary fructose between Moniliformis (Acanthocephala) and growing rats. International Journal for Parasitology 11, 457461.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fantino, M. & Wieteska, L. (1993). Evidence for a direct central anorectic effect of tumor-necroses-factor-alpha in the rat. Physiology and Behavior 53, 477483.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Forsum, E., Nesheim, M. C. & Crompton, D. W. T. (1981).Nutritional aspects of Ascaris infection in young protein deficient pigs. Parasitology 83, 497512.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hadju, V. (1996). Effects of deworming on growth, appetite, physical fitness, and physical activity in Indonesian schoolchildren. Ph.D. thesis, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York.Google Scholar
Hale, O. M. & Stewart, T. B. (1979). Effects of Trichuris suis infections on performance and on nutrient digestibility by pigs. Journal of Animal Science 49, 7.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hamill, P. V. V., Drizd, T. A., Johnson, C. L., Reed, R. B. & Roche, A. F. (1977). NCHS growth curves for children birth-18 years. In: Vital and Health Statistics Series 11, No. 165. Department of Health Education and Welfare Pub. No. (Public Health Service) 761650. USHEW-PHS, Hyattsville, MD.Google Scholar
Ibrahim, S. M. K. (1992). The relationship of Schistosomiasis to food intake, nutritional status, and immunity in Egyptian children. Ph.D. thesis, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York.Google Scholar
Indonesian Science Institution (1978). Recommended Dietary Allowances. Jakarta, Indonesia.Google Scholar
Jalal, F. (1991). Effects of deworming, dietary fat intake, and carotenoid rich diet on vitamin A status of preschool children infected with Ascaris lumbricoides in West Sumatera province, Indonesia. Ph.D. thesis, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York.Google Scholar
Latham, M. C., Stephenson, L. S., Kurz, K. M. & Kinoti, S. N. (1990). Metrifonate or praziquantel treatment improves physical fitness and appetite of Kenyan schoolboys with Schistosoma haematobium and hookworm infections. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 43, 170179.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lawless, J. W., Latham, M. C., Stephenson, L. S.Kinoti, S. N. & Pertet, A. M. (1994). Iron supplementation improves appetite and growth in anemic Kenyan primary school children. Journal of Nutrition 124, 645654.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lohman, T. G., Roche, A. F. & Martorell, R.(ED.). (1988). Anthropometric Standardization Reference Manual. Human Kinetics Press, Champaign, IL.Google Scholar
ManDonald, T. T., Spenser, J., Murch, S. H., Choy, M. Y., Venugopal, S., Bundy, D. A. P., & Cooper, E. S.. (1994). Mucosal macrophages and cytokine production in the colon of children with Trichuris trichiura dysentry. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 88, 265268.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mantsui, J., Cameron, R. G., Kurian, A., Kuo, G. C., & Jeejeebhoy, K. N.. (1993). Nutritional, hepatic, and metabolic effects of cachectin/tumor necrosis factor in rats receiving total parenteral nutrition. Gastroenterology 104, 235243.Google Scholar
Northrop, C. A., Lunn, P. G., Wainwright, M., & Evans, J.. (1987). Plasma albumin concentrations and intestinal permeability in Bangladesh children infected with Ascaris lumbricoides. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 81, 811815.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pearson, R. D., Cox, G., Evans, T., Smith, D. L., Weldel, D., & Castracane, J.. (1990). Wasting and macrophage production of tumor necrosis factor/cachectin and interleukin 1 in experimental visceral leishmaniasis. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 43, 640649.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Stephenson, L. S., Latham, M. C., Kurz, K. M., Kinoti, S. N., & Brigham, H.. (1989). Treatment with a single dose of albendazole improves growth of Kenyan school children with hookworm, Trichuris trichiura and Ascaris lumbricoides infections. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 41, 7887.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stephenson, L. S., Latham, M. C., Adams, E. J., Kinoti, S. N., & Pertet, A.. (1993 a). Weight gain of Kenyan school children infected with hookworm, Trichuris trichiura, and Ascaris lumbricoides infections is improved following once or twice yearly treatment with albendazole. Journal of Nutrition 123, 656665.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Stephenson, L. S., Latham, M. C., Adams, E. J., Kinoti, S. N., & Pertet, A.. (1993 b). Physical fitness, growth, and appetite of Kenyan schoolboys with hookworm, Trichuris trichiura, and Ascaris lumbricoides infections are improved four months after a single dose of albendazole. Journal of Nutrition 123, 10361046.Google Scholar
Taren, D. L., Nesheim, M. C., Crompton, D. W. T., Holland, C. V., Barbeau, I., Rivera, G., Sanjur, D., Tiffani, D., & Tucker, K.. (1987). Contribution of ascariasis to poor nutritional status in children from Chiriqui Province, Republic of Panama. Parasitology 95, 603613.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Tripathy, K., Gonzalez, F., Lotero, H., & Bolanos, O.. (1971). Effects of Ascaris infection on human nutrition. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 20, 212218.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Tripathy, K., Duque, E., Bolanos, O., Lotero, H., & Mayoral, L. G.. (1972). Malabsorption syndrome in ascariasis. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 25, 12761287.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Venkatachalam, P. S., Patwardhan, W. N.. (1953). The role of Ascaris lumbricoides in the nutrition of the host: effects of ascariasis on digestion of protein. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 47, 169175.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wilkinson, L., Hill, M. & Systat. Statistics, Version 5.2 Edition. SYSTAT, Inc., Evanston, IL.Google Scholar
World Health Organization, (1987). Prevention and Control of Parasitic Infections: Report of a WHO Expert Committee. WHO Tehnical Report Series No. 749. WHO, Geneva.Google Scholar
World Health Organization, (1990).Model Prescribing Information. Drugs Used in Parasitic Diseases. World Health Organization, Geneva.Google Scholar
World Health Organization, (1991).Basic Laboratory Methods in Medical Parasitology. World Health Organization, Geneva.Google Scholar
World Health Organization, (1992). Health of School Children: Treatment of Intestinal Helminths and Schistosomiasis. World Health Organization, Geneva.Google Scholar
Zwingenberger, K., Irschick, E., Vergetti-siqueira, J. G., Correia-Dacal, A. R., & Feldmeier, H.. (1990). Tumor necrosis factor in hepatosplenic Schistosomiasis. Scandinavian Journal of Immunology 31, 205211.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed