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- Title
Effect of Repeated Anthelminthic Treatment on Malaria in School Children in Kenya: A Randomized, Open-Label, Equivalence Trial.
- Authors
Kepha, Stella; Nuwaha, Fred; Nikolay, Birgit; Gichuki, Paul; Mwandawiro, Charles S.; Mwinzi, Pauline N.; Odiere, Maurice R.; Edwards, Tansy; Allen, Elizabeth; Brooker, Simon J.
- Abstract
<bold>Background: </bold>School children living in the tropics are often concurrently infected with plasmodium and helminth parasites. It has been hypothesized that immune responses evoked by helminths may modify malaria-specific immune responses and increase the risk of malaria.<bold>Methods: </bold>We performed a randomized, open-label, equivalence trial among 2436 school children in western Kenya. Eligible children were randomized to receive either 4 repeated doses or a single dose of albendazole and were followed up during 13 months to assess the incidence of clinical malaria. Secondary outcomes were Plasmodium prevalence and density, assessed by repeat cross-sectional surveys over 15 months. Analysis was conducted on an intention-to-treat basis with a prespecified equivalence range of 20%.<bold>Results: </bold>During 13 months of follow-up, the incidence rate of malaria was 0.27 episodes/person-year in the repeated treatment group and 0.26 episodes/person-year in the annual treatment group (incidence difference, 0.01; 95% confidence interval, -.03 to .06). The prevalence and density of malaria parasitemia did not differ by treatment group at any of the cross-sectional surveys.<bold>Conclusions: </bold>Our findings suggest that repeated deworming does not alter risks of clinical malaria or malaria parasitemia among school children and that school-based deworming in Africa may have no adverse consequences for malaria.<bold>Clinical Trials Registration: </bold>NCT01658774.
- Subjects
KISUMU (Kenya); KENYA; MALARIA treatment; ANTHELMINTICS; HEALTH of school children; IMMUNE response; DISEASE prevalence; MALARIA prevention; COMPARATIVE studies; DRUG administration; HELMINTHIASIS; MALARIA; RESEARCH methodology; MEDICAL cooperation; RESEARCH; RESEARCH funding; EVALUATION research; RANDOMIZED controlled trials; PARASITEMIA; PREVENTION; THERAPEUTICS
- Publication
Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2016, Vol 213, Issue 2, p266
- ISSN
0022-1899
- Publication type
journal article
- DOI
10.1093/infdis/jiv382