Effect of Routine Deworming on Weight of Children

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Soil Transmitted Helminths (STH) are among the most common infections in the world today. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends mass administration of deworming medicine as a single routine annual dose to all school age children (SAC)(age 5-16 years) in countries where prevalence of Soil Transmitted Helminthic Infections (STHI) is > 20% as a safe public health intervention that promotes healthy growth (Category 2 Recommendation). Pakistan is classified as a low burden community with a reported prevalence of STHI <50%, however,routine deworming is not a policy in Pakistan. Currently, Pakistan is also facing a huge burden of malnutrition in all age groups especially in population belonging to low socioeconomic group. Incidentally, worm infestation by STH also occurs in this group due to associated lack of hygiene and poor living conditions. The coexistence of even moderate STH infections can cause or aggravate malnutrition. The urban slums of Karachi provide environmental, social and behavioral conditions that favor both STH infections and a risk of under nutrition. It is unknown if administering routine dose of deworming medicine to SAC as per WHO recommendation will contribute to improvement in indicators of nutrition status in Pakistani children living in urban slum conditions by eliminating worm infection.Therefore, this study is being conducted to determine the effect of deworming on weight of School Age Children aged between 5 to 16 years.

Detailed Description
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A randomized control trial will be conducted in an urban slum of Karachi. Eligible 5 to 16 year old school age children will be enrolled after parental consent. The calculated total sample size is n= 258. Subjects will be visited at home by researcher and background information, risk factor presence and baseline measurements of weight, Mid Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) and tricep skinfold thickness (TSF) will be measured. The intervention arm will be administered a single dose of chewable Albendazole 400 mg and the placebo arm will receive 400 mg chewable calcium tablets. The weight, MUAC and TSF will be measured again after 8 weeks to determine the change if any. The selection of locality and allocation of intervention will be done using simple random sampling and computer generated random numbers.

Official Title
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Effect of Routine Deworming on Weight of Children 5-16 Years Old in an Urban Slum of Karachi: a Randomized Controlled Trial

Conditions
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Soil Transmitted Helminths

Intervention / Treatment
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* Drug: Albendazole
* Dietary Supplement: Calcium 400 mg + Vitamin D 2.5 mcg


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Aged 5 - 16 years, Healthy, Able to chew/swallow tablets Exclusion Criteria: Acutely ill Previous deworming dose < 6 months ago Intellectually challenged or physical condition interfering with measurement of primary outcome variables

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 5 Years
Maximum Age: 16 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Prevention
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Triple


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Intervention<br>Albendazole 200 mg 2 tablets single dose | Drug: Albendazole<br>* Albendazole 400 mg chewable tablets (200 mg each) Two tablets as a single dose recommended as ovicidal, larvicidal and vermicidal against all soil transmitted helminths<br>|
| Placebo Comparator: Placebo<br>Calcium 400 mg + vitamin D 2.5 mcg 2 tablets single dose | Dietary Supplement: Calcium 400 mg + Vitamin D 2.5 mcg<br>* 2 chewable tablets provide recommended daily allowance for calcium and vitamin D<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weight | Weight of subject in Kgs | 8 weeks | 
| MUAC | Mid Upper Arm Circumference in cms | 8 weeks | 
| TSF | Tricep Skin Fold thickness in mms | 8 weeks | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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STH, deworming