Prevalence and treatment of intestinal helminthic infections among children in orphanages in Jakarta, Indonesia

Abstract

A survey was carried out in three orphanages in Jakarta for intestinal helminthic infections. Stool samples and anal swabs of 158 children were examined. The prevalences of intestinal helminthic infections in the Putra Utama, Muslimin and Van der Steur orphanages were respectively as follows: a lumbricoides 70.0%, 76.6% and 50.8%, T. trichiura 78.0% 93.6% and 70.5%, hookworm 20.0%, 12.7% and 3.2% and E. vermicularis 34.0% 29.8%, 59.0%. Treatment with Trivexan (100 mg of pyrantel pamoate and 150 mg of mebendazole), one tablet as a single daily dose for 3 consecutive days resulted in cure rates for A. lumbricoides 96.0%, 100% for T. trichiura 78.0%, 80.9% and 86.9% for hookworm 98.0%, 100% and 100% and for E. vermicularis 82.3% 92.9% and 97.2%. No side effects were observed, except in one child who complained of nausea.