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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2010 Sep 21:10:277.
doi: 10.1186/1471-2334-10-277.

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

Patrick Kirwan  1 , Andrew L Jackson, Samuel O Asaolu, Sile F Molloy, Titilayo C Abiona, Marian C Bruce, Lisa Ranford-Cartwright, Sandra M O' Neill, Celia V Holland
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

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

Patrick Kirwan et al. BMC Infect Dis. .

Abstract

Background: Helminth infections can alter susceptibility to malaria. Studies need to determine whether or not deworming programs can impact on Plasmodium infections in preschool children.

Methods: A 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.

Results: 320 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.

Conclusions: Repeated 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 registration: Current controlled trials ISRCTN44215995.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Trial Profile.
Figure 2
Figure 2
(A) Prevalence rates (Plasmodium spp.) and (B) mean malaria parasite density in treatment (solid line) and placebo (dotted line) groups during the follow-up period. Treatment group n = 158, Placebo group n = 162.
Figure 3
Figure 3
(A) The proportion of individuals with Plasmodium spp. parasites and (B) the log odds of individuals being infected with Plasmodium spp. parasites over time.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Change in haemoglobin among the children in the treatment and placebo groups throughout the study period.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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