BACKGROUND Intermittent preventive treatment (IPT) in schoolchildren offers a promising option for malaria control. However, the optimal drug and dosing regimens for IPT remain to be determined. METHODS We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 740 schoolchildren aged 6-14 years living in a setting of high malaria transmission in Uganda. Enrolled children were rando...

With the increased spread of chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum malaria and mounting evidence of lack of efficacy and toxicity of alternative drugs, it has become extremely difficult to propose simple, widely applicable and uniformly acceptable recommendations for malaria chemoprophylaxis. With regard to specific drugs, it is clear that because of its toxicity amodiaquine should no lon...

BACKGROUND In studies of recurrent events, it is common to consider a person who has suffered a disease episode and received curative treatment to be not at risk of suffering a new episode for a duration of time. It is a common practice to deduct this duration from the person's observation time in the statistical analysis of the incidence data. METHODS We examined the concepts of incidence an...

Objective:Zea mays root decoction that has been traditionally used for the treatment of malaria by various tribes in Nigeria, was evaluated for antimalarial potential against malaria parasites using in vivo and in vitro models. Materials and Methods: The root extract of Zea mays was investigated for antimalarial activity against Plasmodium berghei in mice using rodent malaria models; suppressiv...

Malaria remains o n e o f the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in tropical countries, and the alarming spread of the drugs resistant malaria parasite underscores the need to develop new antimalarial compounds. In this study, the phytochemical constituents, in vivo antiplasmodial, and cytotoxic activity of methanolic extracts of Achyranthes aspera and Ficus thoningii were evaluated usin...

BACKGROUND In Africa, an estimated 300-500 million cases of malaria occur each year resulting in approximately 1 million deaths. More than 90% of these are in children under 5 years of age. To identify commonly held beliefs about malaria that might present barriers to its successful treatment and prevention, we conducted a systematic review of qualitative studies examining beliefs and practices...

Artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) is one strategy recommended to increase cure rates in malaria and to contain resistance to Plasmodium falciparum. In the Maheba refugee settlement, children aged 5 years or younger with a confirmed diagnosis of uncomplicated falciparum malaria are treated with the combination of sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (1 day) and artesunate (3 days). To measure tr...

BACKGROUND Trials of intermittent preventive treatment in infants (IPTi) and children (IPTc) have shown promising results in reducing malaria episodes but with varying efficacy and cost-effectiveness. The effects of different intervention and setting characteristics are not well known. We simulate the effects of the different target age groups and delivery channels, seasonal or year-round deliv...