Impact of repeated four-monthly anthelmintic treatment on Plasmodiuminfection in preschool children: a double-blind placebo-controlled randomized trial

BMC Infectious Diseases

Research Article

Samuel O Asaolu¹  Sile F Molloy²  Celia V Holland²  Andrew L Jackson²  Patrick Kirwan²  Lisa Ranford-Cartwright³  Marian C Bruce³  Titilayo C Abiona⁴  Sandra M O' Neill⁵ 

[1] Department of Zoology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria;Department of Zoology, University of Dublin, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland;Faculty of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Parasitology, Glasgow Biomedical Research Centre, University of Glasgow, G12 8QQ, Glasgow, UK;HIV/AIDS Research and Policy Institute, Chicago State University, Chicago, IL, USA;School of Nursing, Dublin City University, Dublin 9, Ireland;

关键词: Placebo Group;    Malaria;    Plasmodium;    Preschool Child;    Parasite Density;   

DOI  :  10.1186/1471-2334-10-277

 received in 2010-03-04, accepted in 2010-09-21,  发布年份 2010

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundHelminth infections can alter susceptibility to malaria. Studies need to determine whether or not deworming programs can impact on Plasmodium infections in preschool children.MethodsA double-blind placebo-controlled randomised trial was conducted to investigate the impact of anthelmintic treatment on Plasmodium infection in children aged 12-59 months. Children were randomly assigned to receive either albendazole or placebo every four months for 12 months with a follow-up at 14 months.Results320 children (out of 1228, 26.1%) complied with all the follow-up assessments. Plasmodium prevalence and mean Plasmodium parasite density was significantly higher in the treatment group (44.9% and 2319 ± SE 511) compared to the placebo group (33.3% and 1471 ± 341) at baseline. The odds of having Plasmodium infection increased over time for children in both the placebo and treatment groups, however this increase was significantly slower for children in the treatment group (P = 0.002). By month 14, mean Plasmodium density had increased by 156% in the placebo group and 98% in the treatment group but the rate of change in Plasmodium density was not significantly different between the groups. The change from baseline in haemoglobin had a steeper increase among children in the treatment group when compared to the placebo group but this was not statistically significant.ConclusionsRepeated four-monthly anthelminthic treatments for 14 months resulted in a significantly lower increase in the prevalence of Plasmodium infection in preschool children which coincided with a reduction in both the prevalence and intensity of A. lumbricoides infections.Trial RegistrationCurrent controlled trials ISRCTN44215995

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© Kirwan et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2010