A randomized controlled trial of insecticide-treated bednets and chaddars or top sheets, and residual spraying of interior rooms for the prevention of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Kabul, Afghanistan.
Anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) is a significant public health problem in many towns and cities of south central Asia and the Middle East, resulting in disfigurement and disability which warrants preventive action. A randomized controlled trial was conducted in 1997/98 amongst a non-immune study population of 3666 people in Kabul, Afghanistan, to compare the efficacy of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs), insecticide-treated Islamic cloth wraps (chaddars) used to sleep in, and residual pyrethroid spraying of individual houses for the prevention of ACL. Dosages of insecticide were: ITNs with permethrin, 0.5 g/m2; chaddars with permethrin, 1 g/m2; rooms with lambdacyhalothrin, 30 mg/m2. Cases of ACL were diagnosed on clinical criteria. At the end of the trial period (15 months) the incidence of ACL amongst controls was 7.2%, amongst ITN users 2.4% (OR 0.31, 95% CI 0.2-0.5), amongst impregnated chaddar users 2.5% (OR 0.33, 95% CI 0.2-0.6) and amongst residents of sprayed houses 4.4% (OR 0.60, 95% CI 0.3-0.95). ITNs and impregnated chaddars were equally effective, providing about 65% protective efficacy, with approximately 40% protective efficacy attributable to individual house spraying. No significant differences for age or sex were found between new cases in the intervention and control groups. No serious side-effects were reported and interventions were generally popular; ITNs were the most popular, followed by residual spraying and then impregnated chaddars.
Reyburn
H
H
HealthNet International, Peshawar, Pakistan.
Ashford
R
R
Mohsen
M
M
Hewitt
S
S
Rowland
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000346:Afghanistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001512:Bedding and Linens; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007300:Insect Control / Q000379:methods; D007306:Insecticides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009570:Nitriles; D026023:Permethrin; D015995:Prevalence; D011722:Pyrethrins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017678:Sex Distribution
D007306:Insecticides; D009570:Nitriles; D011722:Pyrethrins; D026023:Permethrin; C037304:cyhalothrin