Open AccessSchool-based combined mass drug administration for soil-transmitted helminthiases and schistosomiasis among school-age children: lessons from two co-endemic areas in the Philippines
Author(s) -
Vicente Y. Belizario,
Jose Rafael Marfori,
Paul Lester Chua,
June Rose Naig,
J. Mark Erfe
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
asian pacific journal of tropical disease
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.208
H-Index - 33
ISSN - 2222-1808
DOI - 10.1016/s2222-1808(14)60797-0
Subject(s) - praziquantel , mass drug administration , albendazole , schistosomiasis , medicine , adverse effect , anthelmintic , environmental health , veterinary medicine , surgery , immunology , helminths , population
Objective: To demonstrate the safety and feasibility of school-based combined mass drug\udadministration (MDA) using albendazole and praziquantel in selected areas in the Philippines.\udMethods: This study consisted of two phases: Phase I assessed the safety and feasibility of\udcombined MDA; Phase II assessed the feasibility of teacher-assisted combined MDA. Sites\udchosen had ongoing school-based MDA of albendazole for soil-transmitted helminthiases in\udorder to demonstrate integration of services by adding MDA of praziquantel for schistosomiasis\udonto the manpower and infrastructure of the existing program.\udResults: School-based combined MDA coverage rates were 80.1% and 75.5% in Phases I and\udII, respectively. Of students treated, 5.2% in Phase I and 5.4% in Phase II experienced adverse\udevents, which were mostly mild and transient. In Phase II, the average time for combined\udtreatment was less than one minute per student, with shorter times observed in older age\udgroups.\udConclusions: Integration of MDA in schools may help in achieving good treatment coverage\udfor soil-transmitted helminthiases and schistosomiasis control among school-age children. The\udsafety profile and feasibility of school-based combined MDA as demonstrated by this study\udmay provide basis for larger scale implementation in other co-endemic areas