Efficacy of 400 mg albendazole against soil‐transmitted helminthes among Salgy Primary School Children, Dembia district, Northwest Ethiopia, 2020. “Uncontrolled experimental study”

Abstract

Abstract Background and Aims Soil‐transmitted helminths are one of the most prevalent causes of both intellectual and physical disability in the world. Albendazole (ALB) is a drug recommended for mass treatment of the high burden of soil‐transmitted helminths in schoolchildren, particularly in developing countries. However, some researchers have reported that the efficacy of albedazole against soil‐transmitted helminths is inconsistent. Monitoring the programs is crucial to evaluating the effectiveness of 400 mg of ALB against soil‐transmitted helminths, as well as any changes in its therapeutic efficacy. Thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate ALB effectiveness in treating soil‐transmitted helminthes in Salgy Primary School Children. Methods An uncontrolled experimental study was conducted at Salgy Primary School Children, Northwest Ethiopia, from March to May 2020. A total of 439 schoolchildren were enrolled and screened for soil‐transmitted helminths by stratified proportionate systematic random sampling to get 228 positive schoolchildren. Students in grades one through eight were grouped based on their educational attainment. Using the Kato‐Katz thick smear technique, the selected stool sample collected from school children was examined using the Kato‐Katz thick smear technique to determine the cure and egg reduction rates. The statistical package for social science software, version 20, was used to analyze the data. To determine the relationship between CR (cure rate) and ERR (egg reduction rate) by age, a chi‐square test (X2) was employed and significance was considered at A 95% confidence interval and p Value (p < 0.05). Results A 400 mg single dosage of ALB showed a 99.35% CR and a 97.30% egg reduction rate against Ascaris lumibricoides. Additionally, a 400 mg dose of ALB showed a 95.75% CR and an 82.07% egg reduction rate, suggesting questionable effectiveness against hookworm infections. Trichuris trichiura showed a decreased efficacy, with a 43.53% CR and a 23.12% egg reduction rate. Conclusion A single dose of 400 mg ALB is effective (satisfactory), doubtful, and unsatisfactory against Ascaris lumbricoides, hookworm, and T. trichiura infections, respectively. Further studies using different brands, doses, and routes will be needed to treat hookworm and T. trichiura infections successfully by using a larger sample size.

Keywords

• albendazole
• cure rate
• egg reduction rate
• Ethiopia
• soil‐transmitted helminths