Background: The World Health Organization claim that mass treatment
of soil transmitted helminths in developing countries help: (1) eradicate
extreme poverty and hunger; (2) achieve universal primary education;
(3) promote gender equality and empower women; (4) reduce child
mortality and improve maternal health; and (5) combat HIV/AIDS, malaria,
and other diseases. Objectives: To evaluate advances in knowledge about
the effects of routine deworming drugs on growth and school performance
in children living in STH endemic areas.Methods: Cochrane review
update 2007 compared with previous Cochrane review in 2000. Results:
Ten new trials since the 2000 review, with a total of 34 trials. Six trials in
the 2000 review were excluded as our methods of applying inclusion
criteria have become more exacting. For trials where data were in a
combinable form, the evidence has changed a little. For weight gain after
one dose of anthelminth drugs, it became just significant, and with
confidence intervals that include potentially important weight gain values
(WMD 0.34 kg, 95% CI0.05 to 0.64). With multiple doses and longer term
follow up, no significant results were found in trials in the meta-analysis
for measures of changes in weight and height up to one year, and after
one year. However, one important cluster-RCT did show effects on weight at
one year in a subgroup analysis. Six of seven trials reported clear data on
school performance: five reported no significant effects, and one showed
some improvements in three out of 10 cognitive tests. Conclusions:
Deworming drugs used in targeted community programmes may be effective
in some circumstances but not in others. There is a mismatch between the
state of reliable evidence and the benefit claimed by policy advocates.