Treatment with anthelminthics during pregnancy: what gains and what risks for the mother and child?
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Date
2011
Authors
Elliott, Alison M.
Ndibazza, Juliet
Mpairwe, Harriet
Muhangi, Lawrence
Webb, Emily L.
Kizito, Dennison
Mawa, Patrice
Tweyongyere, Robert
Muwanga, Moses
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Parasitology
Abstract
In 1994 and 2002, respectively, the World Health Organization proposed that treatment for hookworm and schistosomiasis could be provided during pregnancy. It was hoped that this might have benefits for maternal anaemia, fetal growth and perinatal mortality; a beneficial effect on the infant response to immunization was also hypothesised. Three trials have now been conducted. Two have examined the effects of benzimidazoles; one (the Entebbe Mother and Baby Study) the effects of
albendazole and praziquantel. All three were conducted in settings of high prevalence but low intensity helminth infection.
Results suggest that, in such settings and given adequate provision of haematinics, the benefit of routine anthelminthics
during pregnancy for maternal anaemia may be small; none of the other expected benefits has yet been demonstrated. The
Entebbe Mother and Baby Study found a significant adverse effect of albendazole on the incidence of infantile eczema in the
whole study population, and of praziquantel on the incidence of eczema among infants of mothers with Schistosoma mansoni.
Further studies are required in settings that differ in helminth species and infection intensities. Further research is required to determine whether increased rates of infantile eczema translate to long-term susceptibility to allergy, and to explore the underlying mechanisms of these effects. The risks and benefits of routine anthelminthic treatment in antenatal clinics may need to be reconsidered.
Description
Keywords
Anthelminthic, Pregnancy, Albendazole, Praziquantel, Hookworm, Schistosoma mansoni, Atopic eczema, Anaemia
Citation
Elliott, A. M., Ndibazza, J., Mpairwe, H., Muhangi, L., Webb, E. L., Kizito, D., ... & Muwanga, M. (2011). Treatment with anthelminthics during pregnancy: what gains and what risks for the mother and child?. Parasitology, 138(12), 1499-1507. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0031182011001053