| dc.description.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 | en_US |
