Soil-transmitted helminthiases: estimates of the number of children needing preventive chemotherapy and number treated, 2009

In 2001, World Health Assembly Resolution 54.19  urged  all  Member  States where  soil- transmitted  helminthiases  are  endemic  to attain by 2010 a minimum target of regular administration of chemotherapy to at least 75% and up to 100% of all school-aged chil­dren  at risk of morbidity.

Although no target was set in the resolution for preschool-aged  children, this  age  group has  also  been  recognized  as  being  at  high risk of morbidity from soil-transmitted hel­minthiases.  Therefore, anthelminthic  treat­ment  is  increasingly  targeted  at  both  pre- school-aged  children  (aged  1-4  years)  and school-aged children (aged 5-14 years).