GLOBAL EXPERIENCE IN PREVENTING PARASITIC DISEASES IN PRESCHOOL CHILDREN

Abstract

Parasitic diseases remain a major public health concern among preschool children, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where sanitation and hygiene conditions are inadequate. This literature review synthesizes findings from ten peer-reviewed studies indexed in Scopus and Web of Science between 2015 and 2025, examining global experiences, strategies, and outcomes in the prevention of parasitic infections among children aged 0–6 years. The reviewed evidence highlights three primary pillars of effective prevention: (1) mass drug administration (MDA) programs delivering periodic anthelmintic treatment through child-health campaigns and community platforms; (2) integrated water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) interventions targeting households, preschools, and daycare centers; and (3) comprehensive health education for parents, caregivers, and teachers to sustain behavioral change. Studies consistently demonstrate that while deworming substantially reduces infection intensity, reinfection rates remain high without simultaneous improvements in sanitation and hygiene. Additionally, recent works emphasize the importance of surveillance systems, community engagement, and inclusion of preschool children—often overlooked in school-based deworming programs—within national neglected tropical disease (NTD) strategies. Vector-control measures such as insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) and intermittent preventive therapy (IPTi) further contribute to malaria prevention in this age group. Globally, the combination of MDA, WASH, and caregiver education has proven most successful in reducing the burden of intestinal and vector-borne parasites in preschool populations. However, sustainable prevention requires strengthening preschool-level infection-control policies, improving access to clean water, and ensuring continuous monitoring to detect emerging drug or insecticide resistance. This review concludes that integrated, community-based, and surveillance-driven approaches are essential for achieving long-term control and eventual elimination of parasitic diseases in preschool children worldwide.