In certain regions of Africa malaria transmission is highly seasonal. During a short period of high malaria transmission, illness and death are high in children under five years of age. Several studies have shown that giving African children anti-malaria drugs on a regular basis can protect them from the disease. However, this approach is difficult to sustain and could contribute to drug resistance.
In their trial Badara Cisse (London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK) and colleagues (University of Dakar, Senegal, and the French Research for Development Institute, Dakar, Senegal) assessed the effect of seasonal intermittent preventive treatment in 1088 children under five in Senegal. Seasonal intermittent preventive treatment consists of a full dose of antimalarial treatment given at defined times without previous testing for malaria infection. Half the children were assigned a placebo and half the intermittent preventive treatment (artesunate plus sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine) on three occasions during the malaria transmission season. During 13 weeks' follow-up, the investigators found the intervention led to an 86% reduction in the occurrence of clinical episodes of malaria.
Dr Cisse states: "The results of this trial are very encouraging and further studies on methods of delivery, choice of drugs, and cost effectiveness of intermittent preventive treatment in children are merited."
Contact: Badara Cisse, The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK. T) +221 564 7588 badara.cisse@lshtm.ac.uk
Note to editors
According to the World Health Organization 90% of deaths from malaria are in Africa and mostly in children under 5 years of age.
Journal
The Lancet