Effectiveness of Combined Albendazole and Ivermectin Treatment for Intestinal Worm Infections

November 16, 2005 updated by: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Efficacy and Nutritional Assessment Following Albendazole and Combined Albendazole/Ivermectin Treatment for Intestinal Helminth Infections in Rural Guatemalan Schoolchildren

The aim of this study is to compare the efficacy and impact on growth of two drug treatments against intestinal worms in schoolchildren from a rural area of Guatemala. According to the World Bank, these intestinal worms are one of the top causes of childhood health problems in many areas of the developing world (The World Bank, 1993). Infected children are more likely to have inadequate nutrition due to the worm infections and are more likely to be shorter in height and weigh less than children who are not infected. After collecting height and weight information, we will split the children into two groups. One group will receive albendazole and the other group will receive combined albendazole/ivermectin. Both groups will be receiving albendazole, the current standard of care treatment. Ivermection is expected to improve efficacy and nutritional benefit as well as add increased scope of treatment for the worm Strongyloides, and ectoparasites such as scabies and head lice. Both treatment regimens and the combination have been used millions of times in the developing world and are safe to use. Co-administration of drugs would be a more efficient use of the opportunity to access schoolchildren and provide deworming treatment.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

The aim of this study is to compare the efficacy and nutritional impact of two drug treatments against intestinal helminths from a rural area of Guatemala. The helminths that will be analyzed in this study are Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, and hookworm. Because of the manifestations of these helminths infections, nutritional status can deteriorate in infected persons. According to the World Bank, these helminths are one of the top causes of childhood morbidity in many areas of the developing world (The World Bank, 1993).

This information will be gathered by collecting stool samples from schoolchildren, in order to determine the prevalence of infection in children living around Poptun, Guatemala. Height and weight measurements will also be taken, along with a visual exam of the skin for other parasitic skin infections. Children with an inadequate nutritional status are likely to be shorter in height and weigh less than children reared in an area with a low prevalence of helminths. After collecting this baseline information, we will split the children into two groups. One group will receive albendazole and the other group will receive albendazole/ivermectin. Both groups will be receiving is albendazole, the current standard of care treatment. Ivermectin is expected to improve efficacy and nutritional benefit as well as adding increased scope of treatment (Strongyloides, ectoparasites such as scabies and head lice). Both treatment regimens and the combination have been used millions of times in the developing world and are safe to use. Co-administration of drugs is thought to be a more efficient use of the opportunity to access schoolchildren and provide health improvements. Providing data to support expanded treatment options will provide public health officials with the data needed to make such decisions.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment

550

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Guatemala
    • Peten
      • Poptun, Peten, Guatemala
        • Various elementary schools

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

5 years to 12 years (Child)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Children will be eligible to participate in the study if they are between 5 and 12 years of age, are students in schools selected for study, and if parental consent and child assent for participation has been obtained.

Exclusion Criteria:

those not fitting criteria above

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
efficacy against geohelminths (stool egg count)
height increase
weight increase

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
ectoparasite examination

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Collaborators

Universidad del Valle, Guatemala

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Michael J Beach, Ph.D., Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  • Principal Investigator: Byron Arana, MD, MERTU/CDC-Universite de Valle de Guatemala

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

February 1, 2005

Study Completion

March 1, 2005

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

September 13, 2005

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 13, 2005

First Posted (Estimate)

September 21, 2005

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

November 17, 2005

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

November 16, 2005

Last Verified

September 1, 2005

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • CDC-NCID-4283

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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