AN improved strategy aimed at treating intestinal worms in adults and children could improve the health of millions of children in Southeast Asia, the Pacific and Africa. 

PhD student from the ANU Research School of Population Health, Dr Naomi Clarke says a landmark new study shows that children from the poorest communities suffered from consequences of infestations, such as poor growth and development, and chronic intestinal blood loss and in some cases, anaemia.

“About 880 million children around the world are exposed to intestinal worms. Children with intestinal worms may not develop to their full physical and intellectual capacity. This makes it harder to break the poverty cycle,” says Dr Clarke

“These worms are no longer common in Australia, but they do infect some people in remote Indigenous communities in northern Australia.”

Intestinal worms are a major health problem in developing countries, including many that receive Australian aid in Southeast Asia and the Pacific.

Senior researcher Dr Susana Vaz Nery from ANU says while global guidelines mainly recommended deworming treatment for children, the new study found worm prevention was likely to be more effective when the whole community was dewormed.

“This is the first time that researchers have shown that expanding medication programs to all community members will likely lead to improved control of intestinal worms in children,” says Dr Vaz Nery.

The research team is conducting follow-up research in East Timor.

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