Impact of Deworming on Malaria in Preschool Children
Author Information
Author(s): Kirwan Patrick, Jackson Andrew L, Asaolu Samuel O, Molloy Sile F, Abiona Titilayo C, Bruce Marian C, Ranford-Cartwright Lisa, O' Neill Sandra M, Holland Celia V
Primary Institution: Department of Zoology, University of Dublin, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
Hypothesis
Can repeated four-monthly anthelmintic treatment reduce Plasmodium infections in preschool children?
Conclusion
Deworming treatments resulted in a slower increase in Plasmodium infection rates among preschool children compared to those who did not receive treatment.
Supporting Evidence
- 320 children complied with all follow-up assessments.
- Plasmodium prevalence was significantly higher in the treatment group at baseline.
- The odds of having Plasmodium infection increased over time, but slower in the treatment group.
Takeaway
Giving medicine to kids to get rid of worms can help them get sick less often from malaria.
Methodology
A double-blind placebo-controlled randomized trial was conducted with children aged 12-59 months receiving either albendazole or placebo every four months for 12 months.
Potential Biases
Participants were not randomly selected from the community, which may affect the generalizability of the results.
Limitations
High attrition rate with 74% of participants lost to follow-up and potential bias due to non-random selection of participants.
Participant Demographics
Children aged 12-59 months from four semi-urban communities in Nigeria.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.002
Statistical Significance
p = 0.002
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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