Permethrin-impregnated bed nets for the prevention of malaria in schoolchildren on the Thai-Burmese border.
A double-blind controlled trial was undertaken from August 1990 to February 1991 among Karen children on the Thai-Burmese border to evaluate the effects on malaria incidence and prevalence of permethrin-treated bed nets. Three hundred and fifty schoolchildren, aged 4 to 15 years, were allocated at random to receive either a permethrin-impregnated net or a non-treated net. The incidence of malaria infections, confirmed by a blood film, was assessed during 6 months. Three surveys were conducted, on admission and 3 and 6 months later, to measure the prevalence of infections and spleen rates. Compliance was assessed by monthly home visiting. The use of permethrin-treated bed nets reduced the number of parasitaemic Plasmodium falciparum infections by 38% and the number of symptomatic episodes by 42%. The number of P. vivax malaria attacks was similar in each group. The prevalence of positive blood films in the 2 groups did not change significantly during the study. A reduction in spleen rate by 50% in both groups at the end of the study period could not be related to the overall use of nets. Compliance was high and no side-effect was reported. The long-term effects on morbidity and mortality need to be assessed after distribution of permethrin treated bed nets at the village level.
Médecins Sans Frontières, Paris, France.
C
C
Luxemburger
W A
WA
Perea
G
G
Delmas
C
C
Pruja
B
B
Pecoul
A
A
Moren
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007306:Insecticides / Q000009:adverse effects; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016780:Malaria, Vivax / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D009032:Mosquito Control / Q000379:methods*; D002052:Myanmar / Q000453:epidemiology; D010349:Patient Compliance; D026023:Permethrin; D015995:Prevalence; D011722:Pyrethrins / Q000009:adverse effects; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology
D007306:Insecticides; D011722:Pyrethrins; D026023:Permethrin