Control by levamisole of ascariasis and ancylostomiasis in rural areas
Lechat, M.F.; Jancloes, M.F.; Galambos, F.; Cornet, P.; Thienpont, D.
Tropical and Geographical Medicine 26(4): 441-445
1974
ISSN/ISBN: 0041-3232 PMID: 4456705 Document Number: 70804
A total of 4,094 children from 18 elementary schools in the Kisantu area, Province of Bas-Zaire, Zaire were selected and divided into groups of from 49 to 356; the mean age of each group varied between 8.3 and 13.6. The groups were allocated at random to one of 5 drug regimens. Depending on the regimen, levamisole at 2.5 mg/kg body-weight was given to none, 25%, 50%, 75% or 100% of the children. The remaining children were given a placebo. It is concluded that indiscriminate mass treatment of 75% of the target population at 3-month intervals significantly reduces prevalence and incidence of infection with Ascaris lumbricoides and hookworm.