Control of ascariasis through age-targeted chemotherapy: impact of 6-monthly chemotherapeutic regimens.

A field trial of 6-monthly ascariasis chemotherapeutic regimens targeted at 1-19-, 1-14-, and 5-19-year-olds was carried out in three communities in rural Myanmar to observe the effects on the prevalence, intensity, and morbidity indicators over 2 years. After periodic chemotherapy, the prevalence and intensity of Ascaris infection in age-targeted and non-age-targeted groups fell in all the study areas, more markedly among the 1-19- and 1-14-year-olds. There was also a decrease in the frequency of vomiting of worms, passing of worms per anus, coughing, abdominal pain and treatment of bowel complaints, especially among the treated groups. In addition, there were reductions in the frequency of fever from nonbowel complaints and protrusion of the abdomen among children in the targeted group.