IMPROVEMENTS IN APPETITE AND GROWTH IN HELMINTH-INFECTED SCHOOLBOYS 3AND 7 WEEKS AFTER A SINGLE-DOSE OF PYRANTEL PAMOATE

Appetite and growth were studied in primary schoolboys (6-10 years) in fected 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, allo cated 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 h elminth infections, appetite, or growth. Three and 7 weeks after treat ment, the PR group exhibited significantly greater increases than did the PL group in weight (0.2 kg and 0.4 kg more, respectively) and perc entage weight-for-age (0.6% and 1.7% points more, respectively). Appet ite increased significantly in the PR group at 3 and 7 weeks (P <0.000 5 and P <0.01, respectively) but not in the PL group. The prevalence a nd 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 an d growth in schoolchildren in areas where A. lumbricoides infections a nd poor growth are highly prevalent.