Periodic deworming with albendazole and its impact on growth status and diarrhoeal incidence among children in an urban slum of India

This study was undertaken to measure the impact of periodic deworming with albendazole on growth status and incidence of diarrhoea in children aged 2-5 years in an urban setting in India and to assess the feasibility of local health workers implementing the procedures involved. This was a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, community-based intervention trial with 702 children randomly allocated to receive either albendazole or placebo. The two study groups received two doses of albendazole (400 mg) or placebo six months apart. Mean weight increased significantly in the albendazole group compared to the control group at three months, six months and nine months following treatment (P