Effect of Deworming on Physical Fitness of School-Aged Children in Yunnan, China: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
There is considerable debate on the health impacts of soil-transmitted helminth infections. We assessed effects of deworming on physical fitness and strength of children in an area in Yunnan, People's Republic of China, where soil-transmitted helminthiasis is highly endemic. The double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial was conducted between October 2011 and May 2012. Children, aged 9–12 years, were treated with either triple-dose albendazole or placebo, and monitored for 6 months post-treatment. The Kato-Katz and Baermann techniques were used for the diagnosis of soil-transmitted helminth infections. Physical fitness was assessed with a 20-m shuttle run test, where the maximum aerobic capacity within 1 min of exhaustive exercise (VO2 max estimate) and the number of 20-m laps completed were recorded. Physical strength was determined with grip strength and standing broad jump tests. Body height and weight, the sum of skinfolds, and hemoglobin levels were recorded as secondary outcomes. Children receiving triple-dose albendazole scored slightly higher in the primary and secondary outcomes than placebo recipients, but the difference lacked statistical significance. Trichuris trichiura-infected children had 1.6 ml kg−1 min−1 (P = 0.02) less increase in their VO2 max estimate and completed 4.6 (P = 0.04) fewer 20-m laps than at baseline compared to non-infected peers. Similar trends were detected in the VO2 max estimate and grip strength of children infected with hookworm and Ascaris lumbricoides, respectively. In addition, the increase in the VO2 max estimate from baseline was consistently higher in children with low-intensity T. trichiura and hookworm infections than in their peers with high-intensity infections of all soil-transmitted helminths (range: 1.9–2.1 ml kg−1 min−1; all PT. trichiura infections on physical fitness warrants further investigation. Children from the developing world are often burdened with intestinal worms due to poor water supply, sanitation, and hygiene. However, the assessment of the burden due to intestinal worms is difficult, and thus, the benefits of deworming are unclear. In this study, we determined the effect of deworming on the physical fitness and strength of 9- to 12-year-old children in Yunnan, China, where intestinal worms are common. Children were treated with triple-dose albendazole or placebo and monitored over a 6-month period. Stool samples were collected for the diagnosis of intestinal worm infections. Physical fitness was estimated with a 20-m shuttle run test and physical strength was assessed with grip strength and standing broad jump tests. Children receiving triple-dose albendazole scored slightly higher values in the primary and secondary outcomes than those children who were given placebo. However, the differences were not significant. We also found that children infected with intestinal worms performed significantly worse in the physical fitness and strength tests than their non-infected counterparts. In particular, the negative impact of whipworm infection on physical fitness warrants further investigation.

This publication has 38 references indexed in Scilit: