Does the eradication of endoparasites promote allergic disease?

INTERVENTION: The original study protocol used three‐monthly single dose Mebendazole 500 mg over one year. After the first treatment round, investigators noticed low efficacy of this regime. Therefore, a treatment comparison study was conducted to select the best treatment, and Albendazole 400 mg for three consecutive days was chosen. The amended protocol compares three‐monthly Albendazole versus placebo over 9 months. CONDITION: Allergic disease, soil‐transmitted helminths ; Skin and Connective Tissue Diseases ; Allergic disease PRIMARY OUTCOME: Change in percent fall in peak expiratory flow after exercise challenge post gut worm treatment SECONDARY OUTCOME: Change in skin prick test hypersensitivity, host cytokine profiles, and allergic disease prevalence (skin examination for eczema and questionnaire‐based for wheeze and rhinitis) post gut worm treatment INCLUSION CRITERIA: All primary and secondary school children (age 6‐15) in four communes in Khanh Hoa province, central Viet Nam