title: Adverse reactions following mass drug administration during the Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis in Orissa State, India.
abstract: The frequency and severity of adverse reactions are the main reasons for low compliance of mass drug administration (MDA) under the Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (PELF). This paper reports the frequency and types of adverse reactions during two MDAs during January 2002 and September 2004 in the State of Orissa, India. Of the people who consumed the drugs, 15.5% in the 2002 MDA and 16.5% in the 2004 MDA reported one or more adverse reactions. This rate is higher (49.7%) in a group of individuals who were monitored for 6 days from the day of consumption of drugs during the 2002 MDA. However, many of these reactions were mild. No significant difference was found in the frequency of adverse reactions between MDA with diethylcarbamazine (DEC) alone and with DEC and albendazole. Significant gender differences were found in the 2004 MDA but no such differences were found in the 2002 MDA; however, the frequency of adverse reactions increased with age. Of all the adverse reactions, systemic adverse reactions typically associated with microfilarial death were more frequent. The frequency of adverse reactions was higher in microfilaraemics compared with amicrofilaraemic controls. The present study warrants developing an active adverse reaction surveillance system to minimise the impact of adverse reactions on MDA compliance.
authors.affiliation: Clinical and Epidemiology Division, Regional Medical Research Centre, Indian Council of Medical Research, SE Rly Project Complex (Post), Bhubaneswar 751023, India. babuv@sify.com
authors.forename: B V
authors.initials: BV
authors.lastname: Babu
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rath
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Kerketta
authors.forename: B K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Swain
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mishra
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Kar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015766:Albendazole / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000379:methods; D004049:Diethylcarbamazine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004605:Elephantiasis, Filarial / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019353:Endemic Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D005369:Filaricides / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D015397:Program Evaluation; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D005369:Filaricides; D015766:Albendazole; D004049:Diethylcarbamazine