Efek Pemberian Albendazole terhadap Intensitas Infeksi, Status Nutrisi dan Fungsi Kognitif pada Anak-Anak Sekolah Dasar yang Terinfeksi Ascaris Lumbricoides

Abstract

Soil_Transmitted Helminthiases are among the most common chronic infections in the word especially in developing countries. It has been estimated that more than one billion people are infected with at least one of the three more cofllmon intestinal helminthiases: Ascaris lumbricoides, Trtclruris trichiura, and hookworms. The two first infections, ascariasis and trichuriasis are mostly found in poor urban slum areas in developing countries. Children are the group with the highest prevalences and infection intensities. Geohelminth infections are related to nutritional deficiencies, impaired physical and mental developmen! impaired cognitive function and learning abiltty. Ascqris lumbricoides consume carbohydrate 0,14 gram per day and protein 0,035 gram per day. This will influence the nutritional status and cognitive functions indirectly. The objective of this study was to find out the effect of single dose 400 mg albendazole on infection intensities, nutritional status and cognitive frrrction of primary school children infected rith Ascaris lumbricoides compared to plm.ebo group. The design of this research was double blind randomized clinical trial, which

was conducted since July 2006 until October 2AO6 at 2 elementary schools at Biru- biru village of sub province Deli Serdang. Kato-Katz method examination was

perfornred to the population. Samples were divided in 2 groups. The first group was treated with single dose 400 mg albendazole orally(n:40) and the other group received placebo (n:a0). Anthropometry measurement and cognitive measurement u,ere perfonned at the early of research and 3 months after giving intervention. At early research it was found no significant difference of all variables, except picture completion variable. Three months after intervention with albendazole there was significant difference betwean Ascaris infection intensities on albendazole grou(P--0,000). It was also found significant difference between both groups 3 months after teatment(P:0,000). On anthropometry measurement, it was found significant difference in body weight on albendazole group (P:0,000). X/hile Nukitional status in Albendazole group on the early research and 3 months after intervention there was no significant difference(H,157). However nuritional status in the placebo group on the early and 3 months after intervention there was significant difference(P:0,035). It was formd an increased proportion of moderately malnourished children as much as lO%.On the early research the proportion of moderately malnourished chitdren was l2,5Ya, howeve,t, 3 months after intervention the proportion of moderately malnowished children was 22,5Yo. It was also found a decreased proportion of well-nouished children as much as '1,5o/o. On the early research the proportion of well-nourished children was 35olo, however, 3 months later the proportion of well-nourished children became 2l,5vo.It was concluded that there was a significant decrease of nutritional status in the placebo group 3 months after intervention compared with nutritional status in the early of research. Nutritional status 3 months after intervention between both groups was not significantly different (P:0,501). The measurement of cognitive function was conducted, and it was found significant difference between both groups 3 months after intervention only in digit span examination (P:0,026) and coding examination(P:0,M2). It was concluded that, giving single dose 400 mg of albendazole to primary school children infected with Ascaris lumbricoidcs at area of high helminth infection transmission can reduce infection intensities significantly, maintain nutritional status and increase short-term memory and concentration