Deworming during pregnancy
Helminths are a group of parasites commonly referred to as worms and include schistosomes and soil-transmitted helminths. Schistosome and soil-transmitted helminth infections are among the most common infections in developing countries and can impair nutritional status by causing:
- internal bleeding which can lead to loss of iron and aenemia;
- malabsorption of nutrients;
- diarrhoea; and
- loss of appetite which can lead to a reduction in energy intake.
Athough the etiology of iron-deficiency anaemia is multifactorial, helminth infestation is a major contributory cause in women of reproductive age in endemic areas.
Antihelminthics (i.e. deworming) are highly effective in treating helminth infections.
WHO recommendations
For pregnant women who live in endemic areas*, preventative anthelminthic treatment is recommended after the first trimester as part of worm infection reduction programmes.**
* Greater than 20 % prevalence of infection with any soil-transmitted helminths.
** This recommendation is consistent with the WHO guideline ‘Preventive chemotherapy to control soil-transmitted helminths in high-risk groups’ (2016), which states that “Deworming is recommended as a public health intervention to pregnant women after the first trimester living in endemic areas, and where anaemia is a severe public health problem, in order to reduce the hookwork and trichuris burden”.
WHO documents
GRC-approved guidelines
-
WHO recommendations on antenatal care for a positive pregnancy experience
Publication date: 2016
– Preventative chemotherapy to control soil-transmitted helminths in high-risk groups
(Currently being finalized)
Evidence
Systematic reviews used to develop the guidelines
-
Effect of administration of antihelminthics for soil-transmitted helminths during pregnancy
Salam RA, Haider BA, Humayun Q, Bhutta ZA.
Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2015; Issue 6. Art. No.: CD005547.