Effects of azithromycin on malariometric indices in The Gambia.
Azithromycin (a macrolide-like antibiotic) has antimalarial effects in vitro and in animal models. In the course of a randomised trial of trachoma control we examined the effects of azithromycin on parasite and spleen rates in the population aged 5-14 years from eight villages in the Farafenni study area in The Gambia, West Africa. The entire population of four treatment villages received three doses of azithromycin 20 mg/kg weekly (days 1, 8, and 15) and four control villages received daily tetracycline eye ointment topically (days 1-42). Among 226 children studied before treatment and at day 28, azithromycin reduced the proportions with Plasmodium falciparum parasites (rate ratio 0.56, 95% confidence interval 0.44-0.71; p < 0.0001), with palpable spleens (RR 0.50, 95% CI 0.36-0.70; p < 0.0001), with febrile parasitaemia (RR 0.45, 95% CI 0.27-0.75; p < 0.01), and with P malariae infection (p < 0.001). This effect was related more to resolution of parasitaemia than to prevention of new infections.
Sadiq
S T
ST
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK.
Glasgow
K W
KW
Drakeley
C J
CJ
Muller
O
O
Greenwood
B M
BM
Mabey
D C
DC
Bailey
R L
RL
D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017963:Azithromycin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005714:Gambia / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008288:Malaria / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010965:Plasmodium malariae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013154:Spleen / Q000469:parasitology
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D017963:Azithromycin