Malaria prophylaxis dramatically reduces infections in school children

Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) and their colleagues have identified important public health measures to control the disease, as nearly half of the world’s population is at risk of life-threatening malaria infections. Did. The use of prophylactic antimalarial treatment cuts the number of malaria infections in school children by half, according to a new analysis released today. Lancet Global Health.. Prophylactic treatment also reduces cases of anemia in school children by 15% and is associated with improved learning in children over 10 years of age.

The study was the first meta-analysis of its kind and involved 15,000 school children from seven African countries. This was carried out by an international consortium of 33 researchers from 15 institutions led by UMSOM and the London School of Economics and Tropical Medicine.

An estimated 3.4 billion people worldwide are at risk for contracts malariaAccording to the World Health Organization (WHO), 400,000 people die from the disease each year. WHO recommends providing intermittent preventative treatment to pregnant women, infants and young children in some malaria endemic areas, but the use of these preventive mediators helps prevent infection and improve health. Despite increasing evidence, we do not make recommendations for school-aged children.

Malaria is transmitted by parasite-infected mosquitoes and continues to spread in Africa, Latin America and Southeast Asia. Malaria can cause fever, headaches, chills, and anemia due to the destruction of red blood cells by parasites. Anemia can cause severe malaise, headaches, delayed development, and poor school performance. Malaria can also cause organ failure and can be fatal if left untreated.

“We have overlooked the burden of malaria School age children.. The resulting chronic illness and anemia can impair development, cause cognitive problems, make it difficult to pay attention and study at school, “said a pediatric instructor and center’s malaria research program. The faculty and lead author, Dr. Lauren Cohee, MD, said. Vaccine Development and Global Health at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. “Children can also play an important role in the transmission of the disease, and treating infections can have serious public health implications for those around them.”

In a journal article, Dr. Cohee and her colleagues say that public health campaigns to provide antimalarial drugs to school-aged children may be a way to improve children’s health and wellness, but how to control the disease that spreads in areas where malaria is occurring. I pointed out that it is endemic.

In the current study, the school-age malaria study group combined data from 15,658 study participants from 11 different clinical studies that tested malaria prophylaxis in children aged 5 to 15 years. Children came from seven different countries in sub-Saharan Africa. 8,437 children received malaria prophylaxis and 7,221 participants received no treatment or placebo as a control.

Prophylactic doses were given once a month or once a year, depending on the study. Children were monitored for an average of 43 weeks.6 of Clinical trial We evaluated cognitive function between children who received and did not receive malaria prophylaxis.

Prophylactic malaria drugs can cause side effects such as nausea, vomiting, upset stomach, headache, and weakness, and all 11 studies have reported cases of these symptoms. However, no serious side effects have been reported in any of the studies.

Dr. Cohee said that preventive treatment of malaria can be added to existing school-based health programs, including nutrition and anthelmintic, to further promote learners’ overall health. “Using the school as a platform Prophylactic treatment Improve the feasibility of this intervention and build on the ever-increasing rate of primary school World-wide registration of malaria epidemics. “

“Africa alone is at risk for more than 200 million children to get malaria, and in some areas more than 50% will eventually get malaria,” said E. Albert Reese, MD, executive vice of the MBA. The doctor says. Dean of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, John Z. and Akiko K. Bowers A prominent professor and dean of the University of Maryland School of Medicine. “We must continue to promote research-based interventions that improve the health and wellness of our world. Children.. ”