The contribution of Ascaris limbricoides to malnutrition in children.

There is a need for more applied and experimental research to determine more precisely the relationships between nutrition, particularly childhood malnutrition, and intestinal parasitic infections, particularly Ascaris infection. Nevertheless, it is clear that in certain communities Ascaris infection is associated with poor growth in malnourished children and that deworming improves growth. Periodic deworming of children using a mass treatment approach may be needed to control soil-transmitted helminths in areas where parasites and protein energy malnutrition are highly prevalent. The main aims of treatment should be to reduce parasite loads below the level of clinical significance for the individual child and to reduce future environmental contamination with infective faeces for the sake of the community.