Preventive chemotherapy in human helminthiasis : coordinated use of anthelminthic drugs in control interventions : a manual for health professionals and programme managers.

"A first draft of this manual was prepared by the World Health Organization (WHO) in consultation with Professor D.W.T. Crompton, Institute of Biomedical and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Scotland. After circulation to a number of experts, the draft was revised in the light of their comments and input. It was further reviewed at the Informal Consultation on Preventive Chemotherapy in Human Helminthiasis, which took place at WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, on 16-17 March 2006. Subsequently, WHO staff, in close collaboration with Professor D.W.T. Crompton, who chaired the Informal Consultation, undertook further revision of the manual on the basis of comments and suggestions made by participants. The resulting draft was circulated to all concerned before being finalized for publication. "--P. vi.

Includes bibliographical references.

1. Meeting the challenge -- -- 2. Situation analysis -- -- 3. Preventive chemotherapy and its role in the control of helminthiasis -- 3.1 Aim and rationale -- 3.2 Ancillary benefits and advantages of preventive chemotherapy -- -- 4. WHO-recommended drugs: alone and in combination -- -- 5. Preventive chemotherapy: best practice -- 5.1 Eligibility and ineligibility for treatment -- 5.2 Safety and adverse reactions -- 5.2.1 Safety of drug combinations for treatment of helminth infections -- 5.2.2 Safety in pregnancy -- 5.3 Drug quality -- 5.4 Programme implementation -- 5.4.1 Drug delivery and incorporation into established and novel programmes -- 5.4.2 Implementation charts--how to intervene -- 5.5 Different age groups and special risk groups in preventive chemotherapy -- 5.5.1 Preschool children (aged 1-5 years) -- 5.5.2 School-age children (aged 6-15 years) and adults (aged >15 years) -- 5.5.3 Adolescent girls, women of reproductive age and pregnant women -- 5.6 Problems caused by concurrent infections -- -- 6. Measuring and monitoring during preventive chemotherapy -- 6.1 Coverage -- 6.2 Evaluation of impact on morbidity and transmission -- 6.3 Threat of drug resistance and monitoring of drug efficacy -- -- Annexes -- I. Occurrence of lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, schistosomiasis, soil-transmitted helminthiasis and loiasis in countries and territories where preventive chemotherapy interventions may need to be implemented -- II. Rapid assessment and decision charts for schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis -- III. Standardized form for recording serious adverse experiences -- IV. Drug supply, recommended dosages and dose poles -- V. Coverage forms -- VI. Disease-specific information

Also available via the World Wide Web as an Arobat .pdf file (1.57 MB, 74 p.); drug dosage caluculators (135 KB, 6 p.).